SCRANTON, Pa. — On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, dozens gathered on Courthouse Square in Scranton to honor our nation's heroes.
Retired Lt. Col. Joe Albert and members of the American Legion Post 121 in Scranton hold the ceremony every year.
To honor the men and women who have served our country for generations.
"It's a day that I can look at and remember when I served what I served with people I served with. It's kind of like Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a solemn holiday. Veterans Day is a happy holiday," said Albert.
Edward Chomko was the guest speaker at this year's ceremony.
A celebration of his service he didn't always receive.
"When Vietnam Vets, which I am, one of them came home. We had no greetings. We weren't even thanked until the middle 1990s, and it means a lot," said Chomko.
Along with acknowledging the veterans of Today, Chomko felt the ceremony also served as an educational moment for the children in attendance.
"This hopefully gives them a kind of background on what veterans did and what they're about," said Chomko.
While the ceremony came to an end, Chomko hopes the support for veterans past and present continues beyond the holiday.
"I think that everybody should celebrate Veterans Day every day, said Chomko. "You see a veteran, just say thank you."