Community in upstate New York shows patriotic welcome to relocating veterans

The community of Redfield Parkway, New York gave a warm, patriotic welcome to veterans Monday morning as they relocated to the Batavia VA to make room for COVID-19 patients. 

The veterans are part of a VA community Living Center in Buffalo but moved to Batavia as the VA Western New York Health Care System made preparations in Buffalo to increase capacity to treat potential COVID-19 patients.

When the community heard the veterans were coming, they began preparing to usher them into the community so that when Monday rolled around, the town was decorated with american flags and the residents were ready with their welcome signs. 

“Some people had signs. Flags were put out there specifically for today,” said Redfield resident Jim Owen. “Today we thought it would be especially good to put up the flags.”

“It became an effort of the whole street,” resident Linda Conroy said to The Daily News Online. “Let’s put our flags out. Let’s put out signs and let’s be out there, and let’s welcome them to Batavia.”

“This fourth, newly renovated CLC at Batavia, allows for all center residents to be at one site,” Conroy said. “The Buffalo facility converted 20 beds for acute care, increasing capacity during the pandemic.”

Conley said community support for the veterans was well received “with flags waving as each veteran left the Buffalo facility and the Patriot Guard welcoming them when they arrived at the Batavia site.”