CNY Memorial Day Fallen Heroes Photos

Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. We want to honor those locally who gave it all.

We are building a photo gallery of Central New York fallen heroes. Submit your heroes photos in our form, or on our station app. We will add them to our Central New York gallery.

We are hoping to publish our gallery on May 21st to our website.

How Many Central New Yorkers Died In The Line Of Duty?

More than 63,400 New Yorkers were killed in the line of duty during World War I, World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars. Syracuse.com reports of that over 2,661 were soldiers from Central New York counties.

Syracuse.com has compiled information about the state's war dead from the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. That information is now available to the public in a free, searchable database of New York residents killed in America's wars of the 20th Century."

The counties listed were Cayuga County, Cortland County, Herkimer County, Madison County, Oneida County, Onondaga County, Oswego County, and Tompkins County.

History Behind Memorial Day

Did you know that Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day? History.com reports that it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.

Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades"

Unofficially, Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season. Also, wearing a red poppy on Memorial Day began with a World War I poem.