It looks as if the weekend is calling for rain. It might just be one of those summers.
Regardless of the weather, this holiday weekend is not as much about barbecues and beer as it is about remembering the US military’s fallen soldiers.
In Buffalo, there are a few places that pay special tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. One of those places is Forest Lawn Cemetery, where a slew of ceremonies will commence over the course of the three-day holiday weekend. Everything that you need to know about the ceremonies is listed below:
SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2017
10:00 a.m.
Re-dedication of First Lieutenant Bayard Wilkeson Monument
Members of SUVCW Colonel John B. Weber Camp No. 44 and the Weber Guard, Sons of Veterans Reserve, will honor and mark the monument of Bayard Wilkeson in Section K of Forest Lawn. Bayard Wilkeson was the grandson of Samuel Wilkeson, founder of the City of Buffalo and one of its first mayors. The Brothers of Weber Camp No. 44 are honoring him for his actions during the Civil War.
SUNDAY, MAY 28, 2017
1:00 p.m.
Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Ceremony
The Sons & Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War will hold their annual ceremony at the GAR Monument in Section 14 of Forest Lawn to honor those veterans from the Civil War buried in that section. The Grand Army of the Republic was founded in 1866 as a fraternal and charitable organization for Union veterans of all service branches who served between 1861 and 1865.
In 1868, Memorial Day was officially proclaimed by the national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and observed when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. New York State was the first state to officially recognize Memorial Day; it did so in 1873.
MONDAY, MAY 29, 2017
8:00 a.m. Decoration of Graves
9:00 a.m. Commencement of Services Erie County American Legion Ceremony
The Erie County American Legion will host its annual ceremony at Forest Lawn to honor, recognize and salute veterans. At 8:00 a.m., flags will be placed on the graves of veterans buried in the Field of Valor® and in the American Legion section of Forest Lawn. At 9:00 a.m., the ceremony will begin in front of the American Legion Memorial Monument in the Veterans section, near the Main Street Gates.
9:30 a.m.
Opening of new World War I exhibit with live music by 23 Skidoo
Immediately following the American Legion ceremony, all are invited to visit Forest Lawn’s Margaret L. Wendt Archive and Resource Center (1990 Main St, directly across from Canisius College) for the opening of a new exhibit – That Struggle Over There: Forest Lawn, Buffalo, and The First World War. This FREE exhibit will explore the history of Buffalo and Erie County’s contributions to the war through the lens of Forest Lawn. It will include great deal of fascinating information and a number of unique and interesting World War I artifacts on loan from several private collectors, including uniforms, helmets, accessories of American soldiers and Marines, postcards, photographs, and letters sent home from France and weapons used in trench warfare.
The Dixieland band 23 Skidoo will also be on hand at the Wendt Center from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. playing patriotic tunes from the early to mid-1900’s. Free refreshments will be served.
Forest Lawn – 1411 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY
All events are free and open to the public, and will take place rain or shine.