I was delighted today to see all the flags flying, in just the small part of the city where I spent my day. A quick look at the Buffalo News or any local newspaper (or bulletin board around the city, towns, and villages) shows a community full of events this weekend to honor and commemorate our fallen servicemen and servicewomen.
Buffalo is fortunate to have a wealth of outstanding commemorative events, including a ceremony at the Doughboy statue in front of the Connecticut Street Armory at 11AM Sunday (the corner of Niagara and Connecticut Streets). After the ceremony, the public is invited to a reception in the armory followed by the only-twice-a-year opportunity for a guided tour of one of our nation’s most monumental armories, with Warren Baltes, a veteran who literally wrote the book on the armory. Don’t forget to look for the original architectural rendering of the armory, framed and hanging…well, you’ll spot it if you keep your eyes peeled.
Also on Sunday, Forest Lawn Cemetery will be hosting “Muster in the Meadow” to especially honor fallen soldiers from the Civil War–including 14 African-American soldiers from the Civil War who are interred at Forest Lawn. There will also be a tribute to Brigadier General Albert James Myer, founder of the U.S. Signal Corps., the U.S. Weather Bureau, and
co-founder of World Meteorological Organization by Brigadier General Foley, current head of the Signal Corps. These events start at noon.
And don’t forget the running of the Buffalo Marathon Sunday–the racecourse covers much of the city, so wherever you are headed, please plan a little extra time and watch out for everyone who will be testing their mettle against the distance and the heat. If you happen to find yourself along the racecourse, don’t forget to yell some encouragement to the runners–I can tell you from personal experience that they’ll appreciate it.
Happy Memorial Day!