Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A site has not been selected, nor is there any indication what a memorial will look like, but plans are proceeding to determine how to honor the 10 victims and the survivors of the 5/14 massacre at the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue.
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"We want to make sure that in every step, in every phase that we're going through, that the public has an opportunity to voice concerns and to give us suggestions on how we can help our community heal," said the Reverend Mark Blue, chairman of the 5/14 Memorial Commission.
The Commission held its first public meeting in June, and its second meeting
this week.
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"We're looking at what other cities have done following tragedies. We have a meeting soon with a guest from the 9/11 Commission. We want them to walk us through the process that they went through."
In addition, Rev. Blue said they are looking at how to make it a lasting memorial and how to finance it in perpetuity.
"Racism has played a pivotal part in America and we want to make sure that this type of monument or however it looks, will help in the healing and the eradication of racism," he said.
Suggestions are not only accepted at public meetings. They can be submitted on the commission's website, 514memorial.com. You can make a suggestion on the site or answer a survey that is on the site as well.
Everything is being considered. "Nothing has been determined as of yet," added Blue, "including location of a memorial."
Blue did say that from suggestions already submitted, there is interest in the project from all over the city, whether it's at a park, whether it's near Tops on Jefferson Ave, or whether it's not near Tops.
The final public forum for input is August 15 at the Stan Makowski School, 1095 Jefferson Avenue, from 5:30 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET.
"We encourage everyone to attend that meeting," said Blue. "The more input we have, the better we can process all things in which the community wants for the project, especially the families and survivors. As I've said before, we only have one chance to get this right. We want to make sure that we consider all of the ideas and suggestions from our community. It's going to help in the healing process."