Memorial to Honor the Newly Fallen
A Buffalo, New York memorial, which will have a public dedication on September 11, 2010, will honor those who lost their lives in the Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Designs for the monument were unveiled Saturday at Forest Lawn’s Field of Valour.
Treating Service Members with Deserved Respect
The monument, which is undergoing construction, will be open to the public at Buffalo’s Forest Lawn. It comes after requests to honor those who gave their lives in the Middle Eastern conflicts during the past two decades. A report in the “Buffalo News” states Assemblyman Sam Hoyt “felt a personal responsibility to ensure that the legacy of fallen soldiers in these conflicts was properly memorialized.”
Hoyt told the periodical, “I grew up during the Vietnam War, and returning veterans were not treated with the dignity that they deserved.” Reportedly, this monument is the first in the nation to honor those who gave their lives in recent wars.
Memorial Plans
Two pieces carved from Rock of Ages blue-gray granite will form the monument for the newly fallen. Plans revealed that each piece of the granite monument will stand 6-feet, 10-inches tall, and will weigh a total of 5,300 pounds. Citizens and family members of fallen soldiers attended the unveiling of memorial’s plans recently. Visitors will find the memorial at the Field of Valor in Buffalo, in the Erie County American Legion veterans’ section of the cemetery.
Hoyt clarified the monument is strictly to honor the fallen soldiers rather than glorify current wars. He stated, “You can argue about whether or not any of these wars are appropriate, but no one should ever argue the heroism and courage of those who fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
Create Your Own Memorial
Sometimes it is hard for family members of fallen soldiers to visit memorials that are located far away. When this is the case, they can consider creating their own virtual memorial online. Creating a memorial does not cost a family any money, and they can customize it with stories, pictures and videos.
Learn more about creating a free virtual memorial for a member of your family.
[photo: U.S. Army]
Tags: 9/11 memorial, us army, veterans
