BUFFALO, N.Y. - A wreath was laid in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, N.Y., at the grave site of former U.S. President Millard Fillmore commemorating the 214th anniversary of his birth. The University of Buffalo conducts an annual ceremony honoring President Fillmore. The tradition; a wreath is gifted by the current president to be placed on the graves of every deceased president.
Col. John Higgins, commander, New York Air National Guard, 107th Airlift Wing, placed the traditional gift from Barack Obama on Jan. 9, 2014.
“I present this wreath in honor of President Millard Fillmore on behalf of the president of the United States,” said Higgins.
Fillmore was the 13th president of the United States and was a co-founder of the University at Buffalo. He was also the school’s first chancellor and instrumental in founding Buffalo’s General Hospital and local libraries and museums.
Fillmore was born in western New York Jan. 7, 1800, and died at the age of 74.