Witness 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! Tickets are free and can be reserved online by following this link.

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 an 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.