155th New York Volunteer Infantry
Reenactment Regiment, Inc.
S-4748 Hunters Creek Road
East Aurora, NY 14052-9510

At the Ready

A Permanent Memorial to the Buffalo Irish Regiment
Dedicated September 28, 2002

Buffalo Naval and Servicemen's Park, Buffalo, New York

"We believe that all of Western New York's veterans should be remembered. Buffalo's 155th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment is the only one out of the five Civil War regiments not memorialized in our city.

It is our commitment that the memory Buffalo's forgotten regiment fade no further; that it be forever restored to a permanent place in the minds and hearts of the Buffalo community.

Our proposal is to raise a monument to commemorate the 155th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment."--Statement of Purpose, 155th New York Monument Committee

A PLACE OF HONOR

As part of the revitalization of Buffalo's Inner Harbor, the city is planning to relocate many of its military monuments along the Buffalo River walk, forming a "Walk of Heroes". The city of Buffalo supports this location to honor the 155th New York Volunteers. The exact location will be included in the final plans for the Inner Harbor.

It is our hope that the monument will contribute to a broader understanding of our community's contribution and devotion to freedom. The proposed monument site is near the location of the 155th's recruiting offices and the waterfront area where many of its men worked-in Buffalo's Old First Ward.

A waterfront site is a fitting place to memorialize the Buffalo Irish Regiment. Generations of Irish Americans call Buffalo "home"; the first Irish to arrive settled in the areas from which the 155th filled its ranks - from "the Ward" on the city's South Side north, along the Erie Canal, to Buffalo's West Side.

The revised timetable calls for completion in the Autumn of 2000, allowing time to complete fund-raising and complete the sculpture. The cost of the proposed monument design is estimated to be $42,000. Fundraising has included private and corporate donations and/or grants, special fundraising projects, federal, state, county and city grants.

All fundraising is conducted under a non-profit educational corporation status, with all contributions being tax deductible.

To all who have helped us to accomplish this project, Thank You!

Come see the monument!
GPS, Lat/Long data: N 42° 52.692 W 078° 52.866 / 17T E 673051 N 4749467
(waymarking site has directions)

"My design depicts common Civil War infantry soldiers standing ready to defend our nation's flag, symbolizing the vigilance freedom requires. The flag also extends forward, beyond the edge of the monument as if to offer freedom to all.

By honoring the 155th, our heritage is remembered through recognition of their great sacrifice."—Henry Schmidt, "At the Ready" sculptor