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EXPO

CNY Veterans Parade and Expo

Contact​

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 Any questions can be sent to cnyveteransparadeandexpo@yahoo.com

The CNY Veterans Parade and Expo is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.

This year's Grand Marshal is Mike LaNasa, a local Army veteran whose decades of military and community

service have made him a leader in Central New York's veterans’ community.

LaNasa began his military career as a staff sergeant before attending Officer Candidate School. He

subsequently spent 20 years in the officer corps, holding a variety of command and staff positions,

including commander and intelligence, logistics and operations officer at the brigade and company levels.

He also managed security, logistics and training operations involving more than 500 personnel.

After 26 years of service, LaNasa retired from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (O-5).

His service to the local veterans community has continued long after his military retirement. LaNasa was

a charter member of the Veterans Memorial at the Fair and the Eagle Association of CNY. He has served as

past chairman of the Veterans Committee of UAW Local 2149, past sponsor of the Veterans Voice

Leadership Program, and past chairman of Veterans Day at the War Memorial.

He has also served on the Onondaga County Executive Veterans Advisory Board, chaired the War Memorial

subcommittee, served as a member of the Onondaga County Veterans Council, and served on the board of the Onondaga County Veterans Cemetery. He was a board member of the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Experience in 2005 and remains active in programs at the Syracuse VA Medical Center.

Beyond his military and veterans service, LaNasa is a New York State-certified football official, baseball umpire and kickball umpire. He lives in Canastota with his wife, Ann, of 55 years. They have two children and four grandchildren.

“He is an extraordinary example of an individual committed to serving the Central New York community and bettering the veterans in our community,” said Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, host of the event. “His dedication and passion for helping others through veterans organizations is an inspiration.”

Parade at Noon

Expo 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

2026 CNY Veterans Parade and Expo

Saturday, Nov. 7 at the NYS Fairgrounds 

Battle of the Branches​ 5k Race

The purpose of the CNY Veterans Parade and Expo is to thank veterans for their military service and to recognize their importance in our communities.

2026 Grand Marshal: Mike LaNasa

 Astronaut Jeanette Epps, a graduate of Corcoran High School and Le Moyne College, will speak at 10 a.m. in the Center of Progress. Epps was assigned to the SpaceX Dragon capsule as part of NASA’s Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station and spent nearly eight months in orbit.

Her appearance offers a unique opportunity for students and families interested in space, science, technology and exploration to hear directly from someone who grew up in Central New York and went on to become a NASA astronaut.