Traveling memorials honor veterans in Cheektowaga

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — At Pine Lawn Cemetery stands a powerful tribute to our veterans.

The Moving Wall and the GoldStars Tribute Wall are traveling memorials that bring personal sacrifice to communities across the country. These memorials honor veterans lost in the Vietnam War as well as the Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan Wars.

“This wall has my brother’s name on it,” said Kay Feller, a Gold Star sister and Blue Star mother. 

While they travel throughout the country, for many in Western New York, it hits close to home. 

“We have about 29 veterans on the walls that are buried here in our cemeteries,” said Megan Hahin, executive director at Mount Calvary Heritage Foundation. 

The Moving Wall is a smaller replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Over 58,000 names of lives lost in Vietnam are etched into the surface. Next to it stands a memorial that reflects recent loss — The GoldStars Tribute Wall honors those killed in service since the Gulf War.

“There’s 7,200 names on that memorial, and there’s 7,200 reasons why we should honor and remember them,” said president and founder of the GoldStars Tribute Wall, Samuel Nicoara. 

“The fallen is one side of it. The family’s continued sacrifices — those are the folks that go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning thinking of the loved one that they lost still today years after,” said Nicoara.

“Someone told me a saying once, that we die twice in this life. The first time (is) when our body dies, the second time is the last time someone says our name,” Feller said. “Walls like this with my brother’s name on it mean that their name will never not be said, it will continue to be spoken, it will be seen, it will be acknowledged. Fallen, but never forgotten, that’s what it’s all about.”

It’s memorials like these that help families find comfort while honoring their loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“It helps bring closure and comfort to families and connections with other families. We know that we’re not the only ones that are hurting,” said Feller. 

The Walls of Honor arrived in Buffalo on Oct. 2 and will be here until Monday, Oct. 6.