WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. (Nov. 24, 2014) -- The City of Albany, whose roots trace back to the early 1600s, is certainly a community of contrasts. But no disparities may have been as obvious earlier this month than seeing old Veterans tear up while children standing next to them jump with joy. Truly, this was a strange, but wonderful, site ̶ it was Veterans Day.
The Watervliet Arsenal had the great pleasure and honor in this month's Albany County Veterans Day Parade to lead in Division One, a place of honor. Thousands lined the route, taking a few minutes out of their day, to show their support to the men and women who have proudly served our country.
Marching through the center of Albany along the 1.5 mile route took less than 45 minutes. But what a powerful precious few minutes they were.
"Prior to the parade starting, I walked up to a Veteran who was wearing his fatigues from the Vietnam era," said Dan Belk, who is retired from the Army and who now works at the arsenal. "I saluted him and thanked him for his service. Tears came to his eyes, he returned my salute, and thanked me for my service. It made me tear up, too."
From the arsenal's Operations Directorate, Debra Moody, who has a strong family history of Army service, said that she, too, became teary eyed seeing the older Veterans struggle to stand and render a hand salute as the arsenal contingent marched by.
"It truly made me feel great that in some small way I was able to honor those Veterans," Moody said. "I also liked seeing the kids get excited along the route, showing their enthusiasm for the Veterans."
Kathleen Seeloff, who is also from the Operations Directorate and whose family comes out in large numbers for every parade the arsenal participates in, said that she strongly believes that supporting these types of community events benefits the community and the arsenal.
"When I march I feel like I am marching with my arsenal family," Seeloff said. "We owe it to the Veterans to thank them for their service, but we also owe it to the arsenal to let people know that we are still open and care about their community."
The arsenal, to include the Army's Benét Laboratories, was well represented by a parade contingent that included two floats, three emergency service vehicles, seven historic military vehicles, a color guard, and, of course, arsenal marchers.
As in past years, the arsenal had great support from the Town of Nassau American Legion and from the Hudson-Mohawk Military Vehicles Collectors Club.
This was the sixth year the arsenal has participated in the Albany Veterans Day Parade.
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Watervliet Arsenal:
-Benét Labs has a rich history of designing and fielding large caliber weapon systems. Although Benét officially opened its doors as the Army's large caliber research and design facility in 1962, its weapons research at the Watervliet Arsenal dates back to the 1840s.
-Benét Labs is colocated on the Watervliet Arsenal, within a five-minute walk from those who will manufacture the products that they design.
-The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army-owned-and-operated manufacturing facility and is the oldest, continuously operating arsenal in the United States, having begun operations during the War of 1812. It celebrated its 200th anniversary in July 2013.
-Today's arsenal is relied upon by U.S. and foreign militaries to produce the most advanced, high-tech, high-powered weaponry for cannon, howitzer, and mortar systems. This National Historic Registered Landmark has an annual economic benefit to the local community in excess of $90 million.
Related Links:
Arsenal Story: Nearly 175 years later, Army research center still deals with new substances
Watervliet Arsenal Flickr Page
Watervliet Arsenal Slideshare Page
Watervliet Arsenal YouTube Page
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