On Friday, July 15, at 11:00 a.m., Broome County Executive Patrick Brennan and Arena Board Chairman Ron Sall presided over a ceremony dedicating two new displays that honor local veterans:  an outdoor flag display, and an inside veterans tribute display case.

The new flag display is now part of the All Wars Memorial located at the northwest corner of the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.  The display features new flagpoles, a new American flag, and new flags for each of the five branches of the U.S. military: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The flag display was moved from its original Stuart Street location to the northwest Arena wall to further enhance the All Wars Memorial.  The flags and flagpoles were donated by local life insurance company Security Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York as a gift to the community in honor of the company’s 125th anniversary.   

County Executive Brennan said, “I congratulate Security Mutual Life on their 125th anniversary, and I thank them for this important enhancement to the Veterans Memorial Arena and the All Wars Memorial.”

After the flag dedication, the new veterans tribute display case was dedicated.  The new display features historical military uniforms and is located inside on the Arena concourse. Major sponsors of the display case were VMR Technologies, BAE Systems, Modern Marketing Concepts, the Mirabito Energy Group, and the attendees of the veterans tribute dinner held in February.

Friday’s dedication service marks the culmination of a year-long project spearheaded by Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena board member Joe Coffey, himself a veteran.  CountyExecutive Brennan said, “I thank all of these sponsors for their important gifts to this Veterans Memorial Arena.  I am also thankful to Arena Board member Joe Coffey and all of the members of the Arena and Forum Board of Directors for their work on this display case, as well as for all of their work throughout the year,” said Brennan.

The ceremonies, planned months ago, coincided with the New York State American Legion Convention, which started on July 14^th and runs through July 16^th.  Representatives from each United States military branch were in attendance at the ceremony, together with New York State Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, a representative of New York State Senator Tom Libous, a representative of New York State Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, Legislative Chairman Jerry Marinich and several members of the Broome County Legislature and Binghamton City Council and several town supervisors.