By ANDREA VAN VALKENBURG,

DENISE RAYMO

and ALVIN REINER

Staff Writers

PLATTSBURGH — A new park in Keeseville, diplomas at Akwesasne and bagpipes in Wadhams all symbolized on Wednesday the North Country’s respect for veterans.

Communities in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties held Veterans Day ceremonies as many people enjoyed a mid-week break from work.

KEESEVILLE PARK

In Keeseville, about 100 people turned out for a dedication of the village’s new Veterans Memorial Park.

In 1942, the site of the park — the intersection of Front and Main streets — bore an honor roll listing the names of those who left AuSable and Chesterfield to serve in World War II.

Five years later, the honor roll was gone, but the sacrifices made were not forgotten.

Longtime Keeseville resident George Moore said that, through the years, he was “just kind of bothered that the honor roll was gone,” eventually replaced by a gas station and later an insurance company.

That’s why he decided to eventually purchase the property and donate it, along with the new 9-by-7-foot statue, to the village for the Memorial Park, which also received state funding toward the project.

“I have always felt this place should be a place (to honor veterans),” he said softly during the afternoon ceremony.