POTSDAM -- World War II veterans were honored on June 6, the 73rd anniversary of D-Day at a dinner hosted by Robert J. Freego AMVETS Post 282 on the Potsdam-Canton Road.

The chicken and biscuit dinner and celebration for the veterans and their families was a tribute to their sacrifices during the Second World War in the mid 1940s.

Some of the vets had never met each other and had a good time getting acquainted, said AMVET 282 Ladies Auxiliary President Bonnie Boyd. “They had a common bond from long ago,” she said.

Four of the five men honored that day served in the United States Navy, Richard Miller, Harold Emlaw, James Coty and Robert Wilson.

The fifth man and the eldest, Lloyd B. Brown, who turned 94 on D-Day, not only served in the United States Army infantry, but was on the beaches of Normandy during the invasion June 6, 1944.

“We are so honored to be able to thank our World War II Veterans here tonight,” said Amvets 282 Commander Fay Sheldon. “We will do this again next year. We’ll get the word out in the media that we are doing this. We hope to honor even more WW II Vets in 2018.”

On June 14, Flag Day, the post will have a flag burning ceremony at 7 p.m. Community members are invited and encouraged to properly dispose of old worn out U.S. flags.

Amvets Post 282, 6771 US HWY 11 between Canton and Potsdam, is open to the public Wednesday to Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. A complementary lunch is served on Saturdays. The post expects to be featuring live music entertainment soon.