Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts commemorated Veterans Day with a flag raising ceremony for the installation of a new flag pole, and the dedication of a Rolling Thunder POW/MIA Chair of Honor, donated by Vietnam veteran Edward O’Neill. The Chair of Honor will be permanently installed inside the valet entrance of Empire City Casino in honor of Veterans of all wars.
The flag raising ceremony for the newly installed flagpole located outside the iconic porte cochere entrance at Empire City was led by members of the Westchester County Police Ceremonial Unit. They raised the flag for the first time as veterans proudly saluted and participants stated the Pledge of Allegiance when the flag reached full staff.
The program included remarks from Chris Kelley, President of MGM Resorts’ Northeast Group “The freedoms we enjoy in this country come from great sacrifice,” said Kelley. “MGM Resorts has a long history of recognizing, honoring and remembering our military heroes and we are proud to be able to raise this new flag at Empire City, a great symbol of those freedoms, and install this Chair of Honor to ensure we never forget the sacrifices made on our behalf by veterans and their families.”
The dedication of the POW/MIA Chair of Honor was performed by local veteran Edward O’Neill. O’Neill is a disabled Vietnam veteran and has served with the non-profit Rolling Thunder Inc. for more than a decade. The organization was founded by veterans concerned over the lack of attention paid to Prisoners of War/Missing in Action service members from the Vietnam War. The group expanded to over 95 chapters worldwide, focusing on POW/MIA issues from all wars and conflicts, as well as advancing rights and legislation to improve veteran benefits.
O’Neill is also a member of VFP Empire Post 375 of Yonkers and Bejar Post 49 of Armonk, as well as a long-time member of the Disabled Veterans of James J. Peters Medical Center in the Bronx.
“The mission of Rolling Thunder, and my personal mission, is to educate the public about the many American Prisoners of War and Missing in Action service members who have not returned home,” said O’Neill. “I am incredibly grateful to MGM Resorts for agreeing to permanently install the Chair of Honor at Empire City Casino in remembrance of our veterans, and thankful for the company’s continued dedication to veterans worldwide.”
Area veterans from Yonkers VFW Empire Post 375 and Post 1666 attended the event, along with their family members. Military veterans who are now employees of Empire City Casino also attended and led the Pledge of Allegiance as part of the Flag Raising Ceremony.
“We are honored to have our new flag raised for the first time by members of the Westchester County Police Ceremonial Unit, and have this POW/MIA Chair of Honor, which was generously donated by Mr. Edward O’Neill, reside here at Empire City in perpetuity,” said Ed Domingo, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officers of MGM Resorts’ Northeast Group.“It is our hope that this Chair of Honor will convey MGM Resorts’ deep respect and gratitude to our heroes.”
