News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DATE:
 May 19, 2009
CONTACT: Katie McKenna
kmckenna@topsmarkets.com

   
AMERICAN VETERANS TRAVELING TRIBUTE AND TRAVELING WALL COMING TO WESTERN NEW YORK JUNE 25 – 29
East Aurora, NY – The Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the East Aurora American Legion Post 362, the Aurora Vietnam Veterans, and title sponsors Tops Friendly Markets, the Erie County Veterans Service Agency and Knox Farm State Park, announced today that the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) will be on exhibit at Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, from June 25 to June 29, 2009.

An event announcing the June arrival of the AVTT was held today at Tops Friendly Markets on Grey Street in East Aurora, NY. All presenting and title sponsors were present along with local dignitaries and representatives on behalf of each branch of the military.

The AVTT’s main exhibit is an 80 percent size replica of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial Monument. The traveling wall was completed in early 1998 and is the largest Wall replica currently traveling the country. Standing eight-foot tall and 370 feet long, the traveling memorial contains each name etched on the original monument located in Washington, D.C. While in Western New York, the AVTT will also present several Cost of Freedom memorials and exhibits as well.

The event will kick off on June 24, at Tops Market located at 4777 Transit Rd. in Depew, NY and will include a motorcycle escort of Vietnam Veterans and others who will accompany the AVTT to Knox Farm State Park., In East Aurora where the traveling tribute will reside for the five-day celebration. The tribute will include several ceremonies scheduled during the week, honoring armed forces and emergency service groups. On Saturday, June 27, the only Medal of Honor recipient living in New York State, Gary Beikirch, as well as other area veterans, will be recognized.

Other memorials and exhibits that will be included in the AVTT event include:

• The Cost of Freedom Memorial • 911 Memorials • Walk of Heroes • Vietnam Remembered • Tribute Panel • World War II • Korean War

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) is a veteran-owned project committed to travel the USA to honor, respect, and remember those who served, and pay specific tribute to those who gave all. AVTT is not government sponsored or affiliated, but funded through sponsorship fees, donations, and sale of merchandise at events. AVTT works with The Traveling Wall Foundation; an IRS designated charitable non-profit organization. For more information about the AVTT, visit www.avtt.org.

Tops Markets, LLC, is headquartered in Williamsville, NY and operates 71 full-service supermarkets and five franchise supermarkets. With over 10,000 associates, Tops is the leading full-service grocery retailer in Western New York, Central New York, including Rochester, and Northwestern Pennsylvania. For more information about Tops Markets, visit the company's Web site at www.topsmarkets.com.

The mission of The Erie County Veterans Service Agency is to insure that every veteran in the county is registered in the VA System and is fully aware of all the benefits that they have earned and also to make veterans an economic force in education, employment and business development. Originated in 1926, The Erie County Veterans Service Agency was the first of its kind in the State of New York. Due to the increased demand for such services, and accelerated by World War II, the Agency became a part of the County Government on January 1, 1945. Since that time, this office has provided service to many thousands of veterans and their dependents, residing in Erie County. For more information, visit the organization’s website at www.erie.gov/veterans/

Knox Farm State Park is the former country estate of Buffalo's renowned Knox Family. It is located adjacent to the historic village of East Aurora, birthplace of the Roycroft Arts & Crafts movement and former home of Millard Fillmore. The park's 633 acres are comprised of a variety of habitats, including 400 acres of grasslands (pastures and hayfields), and 100 acres of woodlands, ponds and several wetland areas. Visitors to Knox Farm can observe wildlife, hike, cross-country ski and ride horseback along beautifully scenic nature trails. For more information, visit www.nysparks.state.ny.us.

 

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