Hundreds turned out in Piermont Monday for the annual veterans parade and then crowded Kennedy Memorial Park for the unveiling a new statue honoring fallen soldiers.

Officials say the statue, called G.I. Joe, pays special tribute to the thousands of soldiers who passed through Piermont on their way to Europe in World War II. The soldiers went through Camp Shanks in Orangeburg before heading off to battle.

Relatives of veterans say the tribute recognizes everyone who has given their lives in the name of freedom. G.I. Joe is now a permanent fixture of Kennedy Memorial Park.