Honk for Heroes

Saturday, September 11, 2021, 11am-3pm

Come join us as we honor those who give so much for this great country of ours. This FREE outdoor event will showcase military, law enforcement, and first responder vehicles, aircraft, and personnel. Plus, join us at the Naval Park for a Remembering 9/11 ceremony.
Additionally, there will be hands-on activities for the whole family inside and outside of Explore & More, as well as at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park.
In honor of all the brave men and women who serve our country and our community, and as part of this special day, both museums will also be offering a Pay What You Can for EVERYONE. As always, active military members and their families receive free admission to Explore & More.

As we approach the 20th Anniversary of September 11, 2001, a day that has changed our country forever, the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park is honored to announce that it will be a host site for the 9/11 Flag of Honor Across America Memorial. As one of one hundred sites selected, we will unveil the Flag of Honor that has all 2,983 names of those who perished on 9/11 inscribed. We will also have the privilege of being able to read not only the names of 50 individuals who died that day, but also bios about them. 

We will incorporate these special elements into our annual 9/11 ceremony to take place in the morning on September 11, 2021. Following the ceremony, throughout the day and in partnership with Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum, we will host various activities for children and families. There will be free programs and activities outside both museums, including Honk for Heroes, showcasing the amazing and mighty military and first responder vehicles and Walk for Heroes, providing an opportunity for children to meet members of the military and learning about what they do. Both museums will also offer free admission for active and retired military and first responders, as well as their families. 

The day will start with a special ceremony that will include:

  • Honor Guard presentation
  • Special guest speakers
  • The unveiling of the Flag of Honor – a flag that lists all the names of the individuals who perished on 9/11 in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, United Flights 175 and 93, and American Flights 11 and 77
  • A reading of 50 names of those lost on 9/11, along with a bio on individual
  • Six (6) bell chimes to signify the tragic events on 9/11
      • 8:46am – first plane hits the North Tower
      • 9:03am – second plane hits the South Tower
      • 9:37am – plane hits the Pentagon
      • 9:59am – South Tower collapses
      • 10:03am – Flight 93 crashes
      • 10:28am – North Tower collapses
  • Close of ceremony 

Following the ceremony:

  • Children and families can meet first responders and members from various branches of the military on Rescue Hero Row, located on the Promenade at the Naval Park
  • Free children’s activities, provided by Explore & More, at the pavilion at the Naval Park
  • Field of Flags – located on the great lawn of the Naval Park where children can write and attach messages to flags and place them in this area as a tribute to the lives lost on 9/11
  • Honk for Heroes, a showcase of military and first responder vehicles throughout the Naval Park, at Explore & More and on Lloyd St. at Canalside 
  • Explore & More will offer free admission throughout the day for active military members, veterans and their families
    Everyone can enjoy pay what you can admission to Explore & More
  • A blood drive in the Hangar Building at the Naval Park

brought to you by:

Erie County Logo

presented by:

honk for heroes presenting sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors

National Fuel
Field trips are back! Please be aware that it will be busier than usual.