This Memorial Day, May 30, 2022, The Battle Within Foundation and the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park will be hosting a non-denominational memorial service. We will be assembling at 10:00 AM alongside the Vietnam Memorial.

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There will also be:

• A non-denominational Memorial Service: Pastor Paul Emory, Chaplain for the     

   Campus Ministry

• Keynote Speaker: Lt. Col. Barnard Kemter- Military Historian

• A narrated 13-fold flag ceremony

• Patriotic music by The Buffalo Brass Quintet

• The National Anthem by opera soprano Andrea Todaro

• Military honors will be presented by the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, Ismalia Shrine Color

   Guard, the American Legion, and several local ROTC groups

• Scheduled wreath-laying ceremonies at each monument along the Heroes' Walk

• A special tribute to our first responders and the lives lost at the Tops Market including a song by the group Switch.

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The historic war memorials at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park's Monuments Garden provide the quintessential place to honor all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Located on a green oasis along the waterfront, the Monuments Garden is home to many monuments, including the Iraq-Afghanistan Monument, Vietnam Memorial, Purple Heart Memorial, Hispanic, and Latino Memorial, and The Battle Within PTSD Monument. This space serves as a peaceful place for remembrance and reflection.

 

A wreath will be laid at each of the memorials, including Vietnam,  Iraq-Afghanistan, Purple Heart, Korean, Hispanic and Latino, and The Battle Within. In anticipation of the new African American Veterans Memorial, a wreath will be symbolically placed in its proposed location.

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The Memorial Garden's entire Heroes’ Walk will be blanketed with 7300 small American flags to represent each of those we have lost to PTSD since last Memorial Day.  

 

This will be an opportunity for all of WNY with one, clear voice to proclaim that we remember and honor our heroes who gave the last full measure of themselves to secure our liberty.

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We would like to thank Cedarland Development for the generous use of their property for our stage.

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