PGRNY Completed Missions

Dedication Mission

African American Veterans Monument
Dedication & Unveiling Ceremony Event

All Military Branches

Buffalo, NY - 09/24/2022

Mission applies to the following Region(s):

Region 1, Region 2

About the Mission:

PGRNY has been requested to participate in a very special Monument Dedication and Unveiling event at the magnificent Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park.

Robin E. Hodges is the Vice Chairman of the African American Veterans Monument Inc. PGR stood in honor of her father - Navy WWII Veteran Johnnie Hiawatha Hodges, Sr. - on 2 occasions in the past. The following text is from her request:

"The dedication and unveiling of the Nation's First African American Veterans Monument honoring all African American veterans who have served this country since the Revolutionary War will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 14:00 PM! This event will take place at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park located at 1 Marine Drive, Buffalo, NY 14202. The dedication and unveiling of the African American Veterans Monument is a significant event that will commemorate and preserve the legacy of African American military service members in defense of our Nation."

"African Americans have served in all 12 of the country's major conflicts dating back to the Revolutionary War in 1775. The monument will be the first in the United States that collectively celebrates the contributions of African American veterans. The African American Veterans Monument is intended to raise the consciousness of visitors by providing individuals, both young and old, with the opportunity to learn about African American cultural history. The African American Veterans Monument will have a significant impact on visitors to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, Canalside, the waterfront and the Erie Basin Marina. It will provide patrons with the opportunity to learn more about the sacrifices and contributions made by African Americans amid extremely challenging times including slavery, segregation and discrimination. Only a small percentage of African American veterans' stories are known publicly. This interactive exhibit will provide visitors with a virtual reality tour including historical information on each conflict and personal accounts from African American soldiers and/or their respective families."

Click here to visit the AAVM organization website

Primary Staging Date and Staging Time:

09/24/2022 at 09:00am

Staging Location:

Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park
1 Marine Drive
Buffalo, NY 14202
Click here for map

Lead Ride Captain and Contact Info:

Don Higgins - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Special Covid-19 Mission Guidelines:

Updated 8 March 2022

Based on the most current COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines: NYS Guidelines of 2 March 2022, and CDC Guidelines of 3 March 2022, going forward, the Lead Ride Captain for any mission will be responsible for determining whether PGR members will have to mask up or not. Please ensure that you have a mask with you, should the need arise, and respect the LRC’s decision in these matters.

Special Information:

PGR will provide a respectful flag line for arrival of guests and dignitaries and during the dedication ceremony, which begins at 10:00 AM.  It is expected that significant National and NYS officials will be in attendance at this Dedication, and the event will be heavily covered by the media.  I encourage as many PGR members as possible to participate.  On a personal note, I have arranged for commemorative bricks in honor of my father and my uncle, both African American WWII Veterans.  Please arrive with a clean 3x5 American or military branch flag, and dress for the weather.

Thank you for taking time to participate.

Is there a Second Stage to this Mission?

no

Submitted by:

Don Higgins, SRC, Region-1

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.