Members of the Syracuse community came together Saturday morning to commemorate and celebrate World Refugee Day.

"Being a refugee is permanently a part of us. Although we are in one of the best countries on Earth, we still have a lot of our friends and families all over the world that still need sanctuary,” said Chol Majok, Syracuse common councilor and former South Sudanese refugee.

This year’s event was different from years past. 

"Instead of celebrating in the park, we decided to thank our healthcare professionals, health care workers. We had two groups, that started, one from St. Joe's, one from Upstate,” said Jay Subeti, president of the New Americans Forum.

Participants then marched to city hall for the raising of the United Nations flag and other festivities.

World Refugee Day is a day to celebrate. 

"We are here, we are safe now. We are here to keep memories and keep celebrating how far we've come,” said Majok.

While also remembering those who remain displaced. 

"[A total of] 80 million people in the refugee camps, no food, not enough supplies, especially at this pandemic time, it's hard hit. So, we come together and remember them and share their pains and our pains, and hope for a better day tomorrow,” Subeti says.

Difficulties that are personal to many, including organizers like Subeti, who was a refugee from Bhutan, I lived in a camp for 18 years, so I know how difficult of a life everyone has to go through during the refugee camps."

Despite COVID-19 limiting the usual crowds, former refugees from across the globe still came out in support.

"It was a blessing to see that everybody, amidst all of this, still were able to make it out here today and be proud of this,” Majok says, “This shows how important this day is to us as new Americans."

The event wrapped up with Mayor Ben Walsh proclaiming this June 20, as World Refugee Day across the City of Syracuse.