Providence — The Providence City Council held an evening ceremony in the council chambers on the eve of Veterans Day to honor service members, highlight veterans services in the city and state, and recognize several local veterans and organizers.

Councilman Juan Picciardo opened the event and called retired Providence Police Department inspector Luis Del Rio to sing the national anthem. "The theme continues to be a legacy of loyalty and service," Picciardo said as he introduced the program.

Council President Rachel Miller said the city and state must do more than say "thank you for your service," arguing that support should continue after active duty. "A veteran's service does not stop with the service and sacrifice when they were active," Miller said, adding that Providence and Rhode Island are "bridging together services to make sure that people aren't left behind."

The state director of veterans affairs, who spoke at the event, praised Providence's veterans infrastructure and regional benefit office, saying the city "is the home for one of the best health care systems for our veterans on the planet" and noting the benefits office is a gateway for veterans to access earned care. The director also noted that many staff in the regional office are themselves veterans.

Picciardo told the audience that the council and a special commission on veterans affairs worked with state lawmakers to draft a measure that would expand property tax relief for veterans. He said the change would update a provision the city "hadn't changed for over 20 years" and credited state legislators for championing the proposal at the State House.

The council presented a formal citation to retired Colonel Sharon L. Harmon of Woonsocket, who recounted nearly four decades of service in the Rhode Island National Guard and described transitioning from military service to civic work. "We didn't serve because it was easy. We serve because it mattered," Harmon said, also telling attendees that service continues in local government and community work.

George L. Ortiz Jr., founder of the Elijah Project, received recognition for community outreach. Ortiz described a recent effort in which Home Depot helped fill "6,500 buckets for homeless veterans" to be distributed via patrol cars and recounted personal experience with housing instability after service. "When you see a homeless veteran, instead of arresting them, you give them this bucket," Ortiz said.

The council also recognized Dr. Luis Diaz of the Dominican American Veterans Association (DAVA) and other veterans and community organizers in attendance. Speakers repeatedly urged residents to volunteer with veterans services and to contact city and state offices for information about care packages and other supports for service members overseas.

No formal council votes or motions were recorded as part of the ceremony. The event concluded with acknowledgments and a request for a group photo with honorees.