Kennedy Announces Nearly $150,000 in Federal Grants for Buffalo Naval Park to Tell the Stories of African American Sailors and Honor Western New York Veterans

National Park Service Grant will Fund an Exhibit on African American Naval Service - Institute of Museum of Library Services Grant Supports a Virtual Wall of Honor

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) today announced two federal grants totaling nearly $150,000 for the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park. The National Park Service (NPS) awarded $97,176 through its African American Civil Rights Preservation and History Grants program for an African American Naval Service exhibit, which will interpret the history of racial segregation aboard the park's historic naval vessels and the experiences of the African American sailors who served during that era. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a $51,591 matching grant through its Inspire! Grants for Small Museums program to create a Virtual Wall of Honor that preserves and shares the stories and service records of Western New York veterans.

"The Buffalo Naval Park is where Western New York comes to remember those who served, and these grants will help it tell even more of that story," said Congressman Kennedy. "African American sailors served our country with honor and distinction while facing segregation aboard the very ships that visitors tour today, and an honest account of their experiences belongs in our understanding of that complex history. The Virtual Wall of Honor will make it easier for families to find and learn about the veterans they love. I congratulate everyone at the Naval Park on earning these highly sought after awards and I'm glad to see this support coming to Buffalo's waterfront."

"These federal investments will help us preserve more than history," said Brian Luallen, President & CEO, Buffalo Naval Park. "They will help us tell the stories of the men and women who lived it. From the experiences of African American sailors aboard our historic ships to the legacies of Western New York veterans honored on our Wall of Honor, every name represents a life and every story deserves to be told. We're grateful to Congressman Kennedy, the National Park Service, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services for helping us carry these stories forward for generations to come."

The NPS grant is one of 54 projects in 18 states funded this year through the African American Civil Rights Preservation and History program, which draws on the Historic Preservation Fund. The IMLS grant was highly competitive. The agency received 299 applications requesting more than $11 million and made 88 awards totaling $3.3 million. In 2025, Kennedy fought back against efforts to dismantle the IMLS. The Virtual Wall of Honor will give visitors a multisensory way to explore veterans' stories and learn about family members, hometown neighbors, and others connected to them, and the project includes staff training. Located at Canalside, the park is home to the USS The Sullivans, USS Little Rock, USS Croaker, and PTF 17. The park first opened to the public in 1979.

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