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The Central New York Watchfire, a long-standing Memorial Day tradition at the New York State Fairgrounds, will not take place this year. The CNY Veterans Recognition Foundation, which organized the event in 2023 and 2024, announced it could no longer support the Watchfire financially. Efforts to find a new sponsor were unsuccessful, leaving the future of the event uncertain.
The Watchfire, which began in the 1980s, involves burning thousands of retired American flags to honor U.S. soldiers and veterans. It was initially organized by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 103 until 2019. The event was canceled from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before being temporarily taken over by the CNY Veterans Recognition Foundation.
Rick Keyes, chairman of the foundation, explained that the event's costs, including rising insurance and state fair fees, made it difficult to continue. He emphasized that the foundation never intended to manage the event long-term, stating, "It's just too big for us" according to Syracuse.com.
Despite interest from other organizations, no group has committed to taking over the Watchfire. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon expressed hope for the tradition's continuation, noting its significance to the community. However, as of now, no funds have been raised for the event, which typically costs about $20,000 as reported by LocalSYR.
While the Watchfire is canceled, other Memorial Day events, including parades and ceremonies, will still take place across Central New York.