KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Veterans, their families, and city officials gathered at City Hall on Veterans Day for a ceremony to honor those who served in the military.

After an invocation by Rabbi Yitzhak Hecht, of Congregation Chabad of Ulster County, the Kingston High School alumni choir sang the national anthem to dozens of veterans and their families who packed the Council Chambers. The ceremony was moved inside from its usual outdoor location outside American Legion Post No. 150 on West O’Reilly Street due to inclement weather.

Kingston Mayor Steve Noble gave a brief opening speech. Kingston Veterans Association Chairman Bill Forte, during his remarks, thanked the city’s Department of Public Works, Noble, Bryant Drew, Andrews, D-Ward 8, and the community for the restoration of the war memorial at Clifton Avenue and Highland Avenue.

Forte shared the history of the war memorial, saying there were actually two globes in the history of the monument, which was originally located at Prince Street and Foxhall Avenue before it was moved to its current location. He noted the second globe was actually mounted on a navigational buoy that was attached to the concrete by Seabees.

Forte added that the remaining restoration work includes Kingston High School art students repainting the globe and planting flowers when the weather warms up.

During his speech, Noble thanked veterans for pushing the city to restore the memorial, which he admitted had been overlooked by many.

“That happens a lot of times,” he said.

Bill Forte’s son, Tony Forte, who served in the Army in the Middle East and Europe, said veterans represented roughly 20% of the educators when he attended the Kingston City School District. He also said veterans make up 6% of the adult population.

“Join us in honoring veterans, whether they served six days, six hours, or 36 years,” he said. “And our veterans are continuing their service to our community.”

The ceremony then moved outside, where members of the Kingston Veterans Association stood and fired their rifles in front of the war monument in front of City Hall as snow flurries fluttered from the overcast sky. The ceremony concluded with a rendition of taps on a bugle.

“Don’t forget our veterans, especially those who are still serving,” Bill Forte said after the ceremony. He added that they are facing long deployments around the world while dealing with a lack of support and resources at home.

Elected officials on both sides have taken steps to address this issue, but more needs to be done, according to Forte. He pointed to the cancellation of this year’s Memorial Day parade as a prime example of the public’s absence of support for veterans.

“At the end, there were more participants than spectators,” he said.

Referring to Tuesday’s ceremony, he said that coming by to support veterans doesn’t take much time.

“It’s only 30 minutes out of 365 days of the year,” he said.