Walls of Honor in WNY for the weekend

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Moving Wall and the GoldStars Tribute Wall are standing tall in Cheektowaga.

The Pine Lawn Cemetery will have them on display for the community to come pay their respects to fallen heroes through Monday.

“There are thousands of soldiers who are buried in our cemeteries and there are actually 29 of them that are actually on these two walls, so to be able to honor them and bring people out who can’t make it to D.C. to see these, we’re just super honored to have them here,” said Douglas Wasiura, the president and CEO of Mount Calvary Cemetery.

The Moving Wall is a half-size replica of the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The GoldStars Tribute Wall honors those who lost their lives in the Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

These two walls help shine a spotlight on the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and freedom.

“The wall kind of brings us back in time and lets us be able to reflect on how we got here,” said Paul Wasik.

Community members spent Thursday lending a hand to help piece together the Walls of Honor together.

“For me, it was important to come here to help put my brothers up,” said Scott Bapst, who served in the U.S. Army during Desert Storm. Three of his friends’ names are listed on the GoldStars Tribute Wall.

“These people were in the prime of their lives and gave it up for the country, and we’re here to honor them,” said Dan Struebel, who said he came to volunteer to honor his older brother George, who passed away from the effects of Agent Orange two years ago.

The Western New York community is encouraged to come and pay their respects to these fallen heroes.

“I think it’s important that people come and see this. It’s important for them, these children primarily,” said Samuel Nicoara, the president, founder and operator of the GoldStars Tribute Wall. “It’s a great tool to educate the young generation about the cost of freedom. It also shows the families of the fallen the respect the public is giving to their sacrifice.”

For more information about The Moving Wall, visit its website here. For more information about the GoldStars Tribute Wall, visit its website here.