Yesterday marked the start of a significant tribute to Hispanic Americans who have served this county. A Hispanic American Veterans Memorial Monument is underway at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park and will be located between the Korean and Rust Bucket Monuments. A rendering is shown that depicts what the final work will look like. Being recognized as the 'first landmark of its kind for Hispanic Americans in the region', this tribute is an important milestone for soldiers who continue, to this day, to serve in the military. The first step towards seeing this monument to completion was the laying of the foundation. Fundraising efforts are in full swing in order to finish the memorial.
Along with recognizing past, current and future Hispanic Americans who have and will continue to serve in the military, the creation of the monument is also meant to 'recognize and memorialize' both the Gabriel A. Rodriguez Post 1928, American Legion and the 65th Infantry Regiment - units that made enough of a significant impact on both their community and US Armed Forces that it drove local activist Casimiro Rodriguez to start to raise the $150,000 needed to begin construction. "The unveiling is predicated on the funds needed to complete the memorial," said Rodriguez. "It is hoped that the symbolic beginning of this work will energize businesses, corporations and individual to contribute and make the monument possible."
Donations can be made to Hispanic American Veterans Memorial of WNY c/o Hispanics United of Buffalo P.O. Box 532 Buffalo, New York 14201.
I am grateful for all the Hispanic-Americans that have served our country.
But I fear this will lead to a never ending race to memorialize all other ethnic groups that served, and that will serve in the future (Irish, Italian, etc).
I personally think one beautiful memorial to all is more meaningful, and poignant, than a series of individual ones.
sorry, but you can't lay your gripe about ethnic-specific war memorials at the feet of hispanics. we've been doing this since 1935, when jesse clipper square was dedicated:
http://www.uncrownedcommunitybuilders.com/person/jesse-clipper
the poles put up their own monument in 2002:
http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/files/1_2_1/public%20art%20website/web%20pages/Polish-American%20Veterans%20Memorial.html
the irish did one in 2002, too:
http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~dbertuca/g/155thMonument.html
Maybe rather than putting it at the Naval & Military Park, where it could get crowded as Hamp stated, it should be put in a recognized Hispanic district. As I took away from your link re: Jesse Clipper that memorial wasn't placed amongst other memorials or in a memorial park but in a neighborhood with connection to him or his ethnic group.