Funeral directors donate to veterans

WATKINS GLEN--The Finger Lakes Funeral Directors Association held a special event Thursday, May 13 at the Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen where they awarded 14 veterans associations across the region $1,000 each. The donations, which for many veterans organizations in attendance were the largest they have received, will be used to continue to provide honor guards to fallen veterans who were honorably discharged.
"It feels very good, it goes a long way...We do get donations from time to time, but nothing like this," said Clayton Snow, member of the Odessa American Legion Post 676.
The FLFDA mostly consists of Chemung, Tompkins, Tioga, Cortland, Cayuga, and Schuyler Counties, with additional members from surrounding counties.
"We traditionally host a convention in Watkins Glen annually, from which we generate the revenue to fund missions like this," said Paul T. McPherson, Managing Director of the Covert Funeral Home in Ovid and member of the FLFDA. "As an association, we feel strongly about giving back to our local communities, much like these Veterans Service Organizations do the same."
Kyle Chedzoy, owner of Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home in Watkins Glen, said it was the first time since the pandemic that he had seen many of those in attendance.
"We're donating money to our local veteran honor guards," Chedzoy said. "They do it to honor our veterans, and it is an important part for our veterans who pass away."
The decision to become a member of an honor guard is not just one that takes a time commitment, it requires a financial one as well.
"We buy all our own uniforms, each individual," said Snow.
Along with the uniform, honor guards are responsible for the firearms, the blank rounds and more.
"(Veteran organizations) provide someone to play Taps and fold the flag and they have firing squads. They are not paid and they volunteer their own time and money and this way we are giving back to them," added Chedzoy.