This Memorial Day, be sure to take some time to remember and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed their lives so that we may be able to live our own lives unfettered and free. One way to pay homage to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the country’s armed forces, is to pay a visit to Forest Lawn. That is where many deceased military personnel rest in what is called the Field of Valor.
Aside from walking the grounds of the cemetery in honor of military personnel buried there, Forest Lawn also allows the public to participate in Memorial Day programming on Sunday and Monday. Below you will find the line-up of ceremonial activities:
SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2015 12:30 p.m.
Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Ceremony
The Sons & Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War will hold their annual ceremony at the GAR Monument in Section 14 of Forest Lawn to honor those veterans from the Civil War buried in that section. The Grand Army of the Republic was founded in 1866 as a fraternal and charitable organization for Union veterans of all service branches who served between 1861 and 1865.
In 1868, Memorial Day was officially proclaimed by the national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and observed when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. New York State was the first state to officially recognize Memorial Day; it did so in 1873.
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2015
8:30 a.m. Decoration of Graves
9:00 a.m. Commencement of Services Erie County American Legion Ceremony
The Erie County American Legion will host its annual ceremony at Forest Lawn to honor, recognize and salute veterans. At 8:30 a.m., flags will be placed on the graves of veterans buried in the Field of Valor® and in the American Legion section of Forest Lawn.
At 9 a.m., the ceremony will begin in front of the American Legion Memorial Monument in the Veterans section, near the Main Street Gates.
10:30 a.m. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Ceremony

The Katherine Pratt Horton Buffalo Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will honor the 17 veterans of the American Revolutionary War who are buried in Forest Lawn. A brief ceremony will be held in the area of Forest Lawn known as Franklin Square, where the remains of those originally interred at a cemetery located at Franklin Square in the city of Buffalo were re-interred in 1852. After the ceremony, a wreath and a U.S. flag will be placed at the grave of each Revolutionary War veteran.
WHERE: Forest Lawn | 1411 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY
WHO: All events are free and open to the public, and will take place rain or shine.