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Buffalo’s African American Veterans Monument
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Barbara L. Oliver
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5820 Main Street, Suite 311 | Caldwell Building | Williamsville, NY 14221 P- 716.204.1297 | F- 716.204.2260 jeweler@barbaraoliverandco.com Shop By Appointment - Curbside Available
Buffalo’s New African American Veterans Monument
BY RACHEL BEERMAN, JCRC MANAGER
Since opening its doors in 1979, The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park has been an important place to learn about and honor the brave military men and women who have served our country. The most recent addition to the military park, The African American Veterans Monument (AAVM), is the first monument in the nation designed to commemorate African Americans who have served in all six branches of the military in times of war and peace. The memorial was designed by Jonathan Casey and the team at Solid 716, and through the outstanding website (aavmwny.org), visitors can learn about twelve military eras of United States history and the African Americans who served during those times.
The new African American Veterans Monument at The Buffalo and Erie Country Naval and Military Park
The Buffalo Jewish Federation (BJF) was honored to be a bronze sponsor of the new monument and to play a small part to ensure that these stories of American bravery and dedication to country and humanity are preserved far into the future.
While there are many ways in which the lives of African Americans and Jews have intersected during America’s military history, one very powerful experience happened during the World War II era. The 761st Tank Battalion, a segregated all Black unit, was present at the liberation of a subcamp of Mauthausen. One of the soldiers, Floyd D., whose story is archived at the Holocaust Center of San Francisco, recounted in a talk to students about his experience there: “We all are God’s creatures, and we’re all alike,” he said. “Our skin may be different; our color may be different. That doesn’t give us the right to hate one another. We are all the same in the eyes of God….”
“Whoever say that it didn’t happen, I would like to tell them that it did, and I am a living witness to witness it.” he continued. “To me, it’s memories, and to the ones that wasn’t there, and now, it’s history. To them. So they gotta believe it. They must believe it, because if we don’t remember this, it’ll happen again.”
