A local college did its part to celebrate veterans in Queens ahead of Veterans Day.
Queens College held their annual Veterans Lunch on Wednesday.
Local lawmakers in attendance honored former members of the military by reading their stories and giving them proclamations.
Each of the veterans also got a chance to talk about their time in the service.
Organizers said the emotional ceremony is an important one to hold every year.
"Just to praise them, give them some recognition, building camaraderie, bring them together and, you know, having a good time together…We need to have the resources specifically when our veterans come back so they don't end up homeless, they don't end up dropping out of school because of that tough transition," said Dennis Torres, a veterans outreach specialist at Queens College.
The students planned to march with other CUNY Veterans in Friday's Veterans Day Parade.