at Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park Thirty-one scouts and 26 adults from Cub Scout Pack 292, chartered by the Chili Lions, recently visited the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park. Scouts ranged from second grade Wolf Cubs to fifth grade Webelos 2 Cubs. The visit took place from Friday night, November 2 into the morning of November 3 and was part of the youth encampment program at the park. The Naval Park is located in the heart of downtown Buffalo, right next to the HSBC Arena. It is home to the only guided missile cruiser open to the public, USS Little Rock, CLG-4, and the destroyer USS The Sullivans (DD-537). The Sullivans was designated a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior in 1986. The visit was part of Park 292's 2001-2002 scout program for area youths. Friday evening began with heavy rains and tight quarters on ship. After the evening flag-lowering ceremony, there was a fine military dinner on board, a ride on a motion simulator, a choice of movies, and finally taps. Adults were treated to fire and safety watches all night long in one-hour shifts. Reveille came Saturday morning followed by the traditional flag-raising ceremony, a hearty military breakfast and tours of both historic ships. There is also a museum on-site, which includes tributes to Buffalo area ground and naval veterans from many war eras. The park also displays many artifacts of the military such as tanks, amphibious vehicles, a PT boat, and even a one-man submarine. |
