Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that tonight, May 29, 2023, landmarks across New York State will be illuminated red, white, and blue to commemorate Memorial Day. Additionally, Governor Hochul issued a proclamation for Memorial Day honoring service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for their state and nation.
“As we pay tribute to those who served this great Nation and State with courage and honor, New York renews its commitment to upholding the values and freedoms they fought for,” Governor Hochul said. “On this Memorial Day, we mourn the loss of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and recognize the solemn responsibility that comes with living in a free society.”
The landmarks to be lit in recognition of Memorial Day include:
- One World Trade Center
- Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
- Kosciuszko Bridge
- The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
- State Education Building
- Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
- Empire State Plaza
- State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
- Niagara Falls
- Albany International Airport Gateway
- Lake Placid Olympic Center
- MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station
- Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
- Moynihan Train Hall
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Viviana DeCohen said, “On this Memorial Day, we honor those individuals who gave their lives in defense of our country and its values. Our Service members and Veterans fought to protect the freedoms and way of life we cherish. We must never forget the tremendous sacrifices they made in pursuit of this noble goal. It is our solemn duty to honor their memory by ensuring that their legacy lives on, and by continuing to support and care for those who have served and their families.”
Memorial Day was first recognized on May 5, 1866, in the Village of Waterloo, New York, when veterans and civic leaders marched to the community’s three cemeteries for grave site remembrance services honoring those who had lost their lives in the Civil War. In 1971, Memorial Day was officially recognized as a federal holiday and a National Day of Mourning and remembrance for those who lost their lives serving in the U.S. armed forces.
