Photo By Airman Daniel Meade | New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Shawn Reynolds, the deputy commander of the 107th...... read more read more
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The deputy commander of the 107th Operations Group of the New York National Guard’s 107th Attack Wing honored the nation’s 13th president, Millard Fillmore, on his 220th birthday, with a wreath laying ceremony at his grave in Buffalo’s Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Lt. Col. Shawn Reynolds, representing President Donald Trump, placed a wreath from the White House on Fillmore’s grave on Jan. 7, 2020.
A wreath from the current President is placed on the graves of former presidents on their birthdays by members of the U.S. military. The New York National Guard also honors Presidents Chester Arthur, who is buried outside Albany, and Martin Van Buren, who is buried in Kinderhook.
The simple wreath is adorned in red, white and blue, with a card marked “The President.”
Reynolds joined representatives of various organizations started by Fillmore, in placing wreaths at this grave.
The 107th has represented the president in honoring Fillmore for more than three decades, Reynolds explained.
“President Fillmore was a cofounder of the University at Buffalo,” Reynolds said. “As an
alumnus of the University myself, it was nice to be selected to lay the wreath for a president who
is known for the community service he's done in the Buffalo area.”
A Buffalo native, President Fillmore immersed himself into the inner workings of the community
and was even a part of writing the charter that incorporated Buffalo as a city in 1832. He also
helped to found such institutions as the Buffalo Historical Society which today includes the
Buffalo History Museum and Tifft Nature Preserve, in 1862.
Fillmore became vice president to Zachary Taylor in 1849 while serving as the first chancellor of
The University at Buffalo. Upon the sudden death of President Taylor in 1850, Fillmore was sworn in on July 9 of that year.
After his presidency, Fillmore lived out the remainder of his life in Buffalo with his wife Caroline
supporting every cause they could.
He died on March 8, 1874, and his funeral was attended by hundreds, along with the United States Senate sending three of its members to honor their former president.
“It’s amazing the things that he helped start here in Buffalo.” said Reynolds “I’m very honored to
present this wreath and say a couple of words about President Fillmore.”
| Date Taken: | 01.10.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 01.10.2020 16:37 |
| Story ID: | 358759 |
| Location: | BUFFALO, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 60 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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