Cliff,
I think I know what you mean.
I am, as you say, an "Import" too.................maybe not as imported as you, but an import much the same.
And considerably more recent an import than yourself, but not from as far away.
Despite that, it certainly does seem to have a warmth that appeals to all who visit. I can't explain it really. It's welcoming to all, while specifically remembering local people. Perhaps it's the effort involved in the project, the humbling of the viewer, that brings out those feelings, anyway it's just remarkable workmanship and detail.
The first time I saw Memorial Lane, it gave me a lump in the throat that no surgeon could remove! No matter how many times I visit, that feeling remains.