Niagara Falls Veterans Monument

11/04/2025

Ken Hamilton's MY PICKS TO SERVE for candidates to serve this troubled city.

Niagara Area Coroner: Michael Goodlander
Niagara County 4th District Legislature: Sean Mapp
Niagara County 6th District Legislature: Dante Richardson
Niagara Falls City Council: Vincent Cauley
Niagara Falls City Council: Tanya Barone
Niagara Falls City Council: Dontā Myles -- write in.

01/30/2024

TAPS: UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN
Dr. Robert C. Bennett Robert “Big Rob” C. Bennett, PhD, LMHC, CASA, 55, of Niagara Falls, NY, passed away on Thursday, May 20, 2021 in Buffalo General Hospital. Born in Buffalo, NY, he was the son of the late Robert C. Bennett, Sr. and Annie Whigham and the beloved husband of Vicky (Wideman) Bennett, who he married on September 12, 2012 in Niagara Falls.

Robert served in the United States Army as a medical specialist until his honorable discharge. He received both his Bachelor’s and his Master’s degree from Medaille College and earned his PhD at Walden University. Robert was saved and filled with the Holy Spirit over 26 years ago at True Deliverance Temple. Robert was an ordained minister and member of True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo, under the leadership of Bishop Dar, where he served as an usher at the Swan Street location.

Rob had a devotion to counseling serving as the program director of the Madonna House, a treatment center for woman with children who are currently recovering from substance and alcohol abuse. He then worked at Horizon Health Services as a senior counselor, then, the director of inpatient behavioral health services at Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital. For the past six weeks, Robert was employed at the Erie County Medical Center as the Assistant Vice-President of behavioral health and community services.

Big Rob, as he was known to his family and friends, was a gifted athlete and excelled on the Medaille College Basketball team. He continued to play in local men’s leagues, most recently on the team called: “Friends.” Rob was a talented gospel hip-hop rapper and lyricist. He was also a very spiritual driven man, and the author of two books, Letters to the Women I Love and U R Woman.

Above all, Robert was a devoted husband and father. He will be deeply missed.

In addition to his wife, Vicky, Robert is survived by his daughter, Lyria K. Bennett; his stepchildren, Darius M. Bryant, Laricuss Nelson and Deker Milton; four siblings, Al (Minnie Swanson) Whighman, William Arrington, Dorcel Arrington and Nicole Ketcher; his brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Valerie Wideman, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins ...

01/30/2024

https://www.military.com/daily-news/opinions/2024/01/22/marine-corps-becoming-animal-house.html

"Back in the days when the Marine Corps was still the Marine Corps, quality of life was considered a basic leadership responsibility."

08/27/2022

Sgt. Frederick Toy, though not known to have ever being an actual resident of Niagara Falls NY, is honored at the Niagara Falls Veterans Monument for participating in the shooting of unarmed Sioux Indian men, women and children.

Wounded Knee Massacre, (December 29, 1890), the slaughter of approximately 150–300 Lakota Indians by United States Army troops in the area of Wounded Knee Creek in southwestern South Dakota.

It is time that the city takes the initiative to lead the nation in taking that honor away from Sgt. Toy.

08/27/2022

WOUNDED KNEE MASSACRE TARNISHES MEDAL OF HONOR
This is a very good and educational read, as there is one questionable Niagara Falls veteran who has a personalized Medal of Honor stone at the monument and received the MOH for massacring Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee. Furthermore, there's no actual evidence found of SGT Frederick Toy being from Niagara Falls prior to, or after which, his entering or leaving the Army.

That Toy Stone should, as I have long advocated, be removed.

After soldiers killed women and children at the end of the Indian Wars, the soldiers received the military’s highest award.

11/12/2021

If you believe in Civil Rights and correcting the wrongs of the past, then it is important for you all to watch this, share this and to act upon this.

Lakota Chief Bear Cross (Ghost Nation), Chase Iron Eyes and their families give a series of powerful speeches at a monument dedicated to Wounded Knee Medal o...

10/13/2021

Follow the below link for video of Lakota delegation at the Niagara Falls Veterans Monument. It says it all.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zkPlkRmoo2vhPzpHRZsg_srNhl4aDQ_5

I agree with the Lakota Native Americans proclamation of disdain for the awarding of the Medal of Honor to Sgt. Frederick Toy for his shooting in the backs of unarmed fleeing Indians during the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890.

One of the points that the Lakota spokesperson said was that Americans are against stolen honor. Sadly, it would seem that I am the only member of the Niagara Falls Veterans Monument Commission who agrees that stolen honor is just plain wrong -- despite where it takes place. More of that depending upon our next meeting.

I call for the removal of Sgt. Toy's name from the granite monument that is defaced with it. The commission knows the conditions under which it was placed, the likely feeling the Native Americans would have because of it, and, moreover, placed with no evidence that Frederick Toy was ever a resident of the city of Niagara Falls. And yet the commission refuses to do what is right, failing an act of Congress, and yet follows little of the national calls for flags at half-staff under the President's Executive Orders.

Let it be known that despite my protestations for more diversity on the Niagara Falls Veterans Monument Commission, I remain as the only minority on the commission; and what I say is largely ignored.

Thank God for those who did facilitate the Lakota visit. Ken Cosentino and Niagara Falls City Councilman Bill Kennedy.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zkPlkRmoo2vhPzpHRZsg_srNhl4aDQ_5

04/04/2021

IN MEMORIAM

Robert "Robbie" L. Hunt, Major, USMC, passed away on January 29, 2021 at the age of 70. Born in Niagara Falls on November 27, 1950 to the late Alfred M. Hunt, Sr. and the late Betty J. (Kelly) Hunt-Beckwith.

Robert graduated from Niagara Falls High School in 1968 where he excelled in swimming. After graduating he received as scholarship and attended Colombia University, NYC, enrolled in pre-med. While at Colombia, his thoughts changed and he decided to join the armed services, U.S Marine Corp. in 1971 and dedicated himself to that life, beginning with the rank of Sergeant, 1st Lt., Captain and was honorably discharged in 1989 with the rank of Major.

03/29/2021

National Vietnam War Veterans Day, marking 45-years since the close of the war.