Legislator Hill Delivers $25,000 for Veterans Memorial in Hartland

Niagara County Legislator Mike Hill announced he has secured $25,000 in funding from the county’s Community Partnership Program to help support the planned Veterans Memorial in the Town of Hartland.  Hill made the announcement as he toured the site of the planned Memorial at the Hartland Fire Company with Scott Wymyczak, Commander of the Gasport American Legion Memorial Post 1253, which is overseeing the Veterans Memorial Project.

The Town of Hartland received a donation last year of a decommissioned Vietnam-era UH-1 “Huey” helicopter which will be the centerpiece of the new memorial.  The display will consist of four sides, each with specific significance:  side one will honor four Medal of Honor recipients who have ties to the Royalton-Hartland community; side two will honor the pilot who flew this helicopter and made the ultimate sacrifice on February 1, 1968 in Vietnam; side three shares the journey of this specific helicopter, including just being blocks away during the 9/11 attacks; and side four will honor all veterans from Royalton and Hartland for their sacrifices in protecting our freedom

“This Veterans Memorial ensures that the contributions of our local heroes will always be remember and provides a gathering space to honor those contributions,” said Hill.  “I commend all of those, led by Commander Wymyczak, for their efforts to bring this project to fruition and I am happy to lend support from the county.”

Commander Wymyczak said he is excited that ground has been broken and the work continues to progress, but there is still much to be done, including securing the remaining funding for the project.

“We appreciate all the support we have received thus far and continue to look for both major sponsors and for individuals interested in purchasing tribute bricks that will be displayed as part of the memorial,” said Wymyczak.  “We hope to have the entire project completed next summer.”

For more information on the project, follow American Legion Post 1253 on Facebook.  For information on tribute bricks and sponsorships, please call Commander Wymyczak at 716-417-5151.  An information packet can be found here.

Pictured: Legislator Mike Hill and Commander Scott Wymyczak at the site of the Veterans Memorial.