BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Veterans One-stop Center of Western New York is honoring fallen service members in a new way this Memorial Day.

This is the first year of a new event called Memorial Miles. People could walk, run or bike in honor of a fallen hero over the course of Memorial Day Weekend.

What You Need To Know

  • During Memorial Miles, people could walk, run or bike in honor of a fallen hero over the course of Memorial Day Weekend

  • It served as a reminder of what Memorial Day is about

  • Army veterans Alyssa Vasquez and her fiancé Mark Davis walked at the Botanical Gardens on Monday morning, and walked 22 miles over the course of three days

Alyssa Vasquez and her fiancé Mark Davis, both Army veterans, walked at the Botanical Gardens on Monday morning. They walked 22 miles over the course of three days in honor of fallen service members who died abroad and service members who died by suicide. They wore the name of those they walked for on packs they carried throughout the whole 22 miles.

"It's important that I never forget them,” said Davis. "Definitely every year when this comes around I think of them and others. That's what this day is about, you know, but the One-Stop specifically made this event. It motivated us to do something special about it this year."

They walked loops throughout the City of Buffalo.

“Yesterday, we walked around the cemetery, and that was powerful,” said Vasquez.

It’s a reminder of what Memorial Day is about.

"Remember, this really isn't a happy Memorial Day,” said Davis. “It's a remember type of situation. It's more about respect than it is barbeques and days off. They would want us to appreciate what they don't have and what we still have and are fortunate to have."

For any veteran or service member who struggles with this day, there is a military and veteran crisis hotline. You can call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838255.