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The first ever veterans monument acknowledging the contributions of Black service members was recently unveiled in Buffalo, New York. The African American Veterans Monument is the first monument in the country to honor Black service members, past and present, of all five branches of the military.
Government officials of all levels along with veterans and active military members gathered at Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park for a ceremony unveiling the monument. Vice chairman of the African American Veterans Monument Robin Hodges calls the monument a unique way to honor Black vets and educate visitors’ about the role of Black military members in American history. “Visitors will experience a shared history which includes significant achievements of African Americans in all branches of the armed forces,” Hodges says.
The monument is made up of 12 giant black pillars to represent the 12 wars in which Black American soldiers served, from the American Revolution to the current war on terrorism. Monument committee member Madeline Scott hopes the monument will shed light on the contributions of Black Americans who served their country in times of war, and who she believes don’t often get the recognition they deserve. The project has been years in the making, having been commissioned in 2014 and was funded through donations from multiple Buffalo organizations.
Source: NBC News