On Monday, May 28, 2018, from 10:00AM-12:00 PM at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, we will be honoring the men and women veterans who have lost their battle to PTSD.

The Battle Within Memorial Service is an effort to get our heads and hearts around the complex issue of the approximately 20+ Veteran suicides per day. It’s meant to be both a fitting military salute to those that have tragically taken their lives, and a forum for issues related to the well-being of Veterans.

In addition to having personal messages by those impacted by Veteran suicide, PTSD, and Traumatic Shock, this event will center on educating the public as well as providing resources available from the VA and community partners.

Sunday, February 11 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

At the Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo, NY 14208

★★ Free and Open to the Public ★★

Join Warren Galloway and Eva Doyle as they follow the evolving role and challenges of African Americans in the U.S. military throughout history. Beginning in America’s Revolutionary War to the present, uncover the true stories of our nation’s black patriots and heroes who fought so valiantly for freedoms they themselves did not always enjoy. Galloway and Doyle will present an introduction to the subject, including portions of the award-winning film, “For Love of Liberty.” A Q&A period will follow.

Warren Galloway served in the U.S Air Force and is a retired Legislative Aide to NYS Senator Mark Grisanti and Senior Executive Assistant to Erie County Executive Joel Giambra. Previously, he was as an Affirmative Action and Human Rights Investigator with NYS and Director of Equal Opportunity at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Eva Doyle is a retired Buffalo Public Schools teacher with 30 years’ experience. She currently lectures extensively on African American topics throughout WNY, has authored 11 books, writes her weekly “Eye on History” column for The Criterion and hosts a radio show of the same name twice a month on WUFO-AM.

This film and lecture series is sponsored by the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park, One Naval Park Cove, Canalside, Buffalo, NY 14202, in its continuing mission to educate and inspire the community about America’s military history and our Veterans.

For more information, contact Marian Hetherly at 716-308-9649, hetherlym@gmail.com.

This afternoon, The Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park presented the crew of the newly commissioned USS Little Rock LCS-9 with three silver place settings that were originally housed and used on the USS Little Rock CLG-4. These place

settings will be the only part of the decommissioned USS Little Rock CLG-4 that will be on the newest LCS-9. The three settings are to be displayed in the Ward Room, the Chief’s Mess and a display case for the general crew.

Two local WWII submarine veterans honored; All veterans to receive free park admission throughout LCS-9 visit

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Dec. 7, 2017 — The Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park, together with the Erie County Veterans Service Office, honored two U.S. Navy veterans who served on submarines during World War II at today’s Pearl Harbor Day ceremony.

This annual event commemorates the Japanese surprise attack on the U.S. Navy fleet at the Hawaiian Naval Station of Pearl Harbor 76 years ago, an act that killed 2,403 American servicemen and drew the U.S. into World War II. The attack, which occurred without an official declaration of war from Japan, sank four U.S. battleships and damaged four others. The damaged also included three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer. Nearly 200 aircraft were destroyed as well, while close to 160 more were damaged, all of which led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to famously state that Dec. 7, 1941 is a date which would “live in infamy.”

“This has been a remarkable week for the armed forces in Buffalo, as we welcomed and are preparing for the commissioning of the new USS Little Rock LCS-9,” said Naval Park Executive Director Brian Roche, a retired Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard. “We are pleased to not only honor these two veterans today, but to also announce that all veterans are invited to visit the Naval Park for free until December 18 — throughout the visit of the new ship — to thank them for their service.”

The two veterans, members of the United States Submarine Veterans Inc. Buffalo Base, were joined by family, friends and base members. The parent organization formed in 1964 and has expanded across the nation to 165 “bases,” including Western New York’s, which comprises of over 100 members. The honorees were:

• Petty Offer 2nd Class Richard W. Bondi, a Radioman who served from 1943 to 1946. Bondi, qualified in 1943 on the USS O-2 SS 63 and then continued to serve on the USS Caiman SS 323, USS Raton SS 270, USS Boarfish SS 327 and USS Burrfish SS 312. He also severed on two submarine tenders, a ship that supplies and supports submarines, including the USS Griffin AS 13 and USS Anthedon AS 24.

• Chief Petty Officer Robert H. Stoll was an Engineman who served from 1943 to 1986. Stoll qualified on the USS Irex SS 482 as a Motor Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Petty Officer. He served on board the submarines, USS Clamagore SS 343, USS Tunny SS 282 and USS Tusk SS 426.

“It’s an honor to present Sub-Mariner veterans Richard W. Bondi RM2 (SS) and Robert H. Stoll ENC (SS) with certificates on behalf of Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, thanking them for their service,” explained Erie County Director of Veteran Services David Shenk. “On Pearl Harbor Day and every day, Erie County treasures our veterans and thanks them for their service. The men and women who selflessly served our country and sacrificed for us deserve more thanks and gratitude than we can give, and today we pause to remember those who served 76 years ago today at Pearl Harbor.”

The Western New York Maritime Charter School, a beautiful rendition of our national anthem by the City Honors Instrumental Ensemble, led by Director Donna Kerr.

The ceremony began with the Presentation of Colors by the Western New York Maritime Charter School, a beautiful rendition of our national anthem by the City Honors Instrumental

Ensemble, led by Director Donna Kerr, and an Invocation and Benediction by Veterans of Foreign Wars, Erie County Chaplain David Willard. Additional comments were made by Park Board Chairman Don Alessi, and keynote remarks were given by Fire Control Chief Petty Officer Franco Montjoy on behalf of Commander Todd Peters, Commanding Officer of the USS Little Rock LCS-9, who served as honorary guest speaker.

“I am proud to say I have been a member of the Navy for the past 27 years, which is a short time considering its 242-year history,” said Commander Peters. “Saluting those who served before me is an honor, and I look forward, as does our crew, to carrying on the Navy’s mission to maintain, train and equip combat-ready forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining the freedom of the seas.”

The ceremony concluded with a memorial wreath placed by Petty Officers Dennis Staley and Larry Fuchs of the United States Submarine Veterans Inc. Buffalo Base; a gun salute from the American Legion Donovan Post 1626 Rifle Team; and the playing of Taps by Post 1626’s Laure Lombardo.