Fort Concho Celebrates Buffalo Soldiers

Fort Concho hosts its free annual Buffalo Soldier Heritage Day from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, in the Commissary Building at East Avenue C and Burgess Street.

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr., a native San Angeloan who returned to his hometown after a 37-year military career, will deliver the keynote address.

There will also be a portrayal of Cathay Williams, the only documented female Buffalo Soldier of the late 1800s. Members of the Fort Concho Buffalo Soldiers living history program will provide equipment displays and demonstrations, and a special exhibit on the Buffalo Soldiers will be available at the nearby Living History Stables.

The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Nicknamed by their Indian adversaries after the Civil War, the Buffalo Soldier units were created by a special Act of Congress in 1866 and comprised of black soldiers. The various tribes thought the soldiers' hair similar to that of their sacred buffalo. Thousands of black soldiers served in the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments and the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments across the American west. All four regiments served at Fort Concho between 1869-85, and the 10^th Cavalry had its headquarters at Fort Concho from 1875-82.

For more information, call Fort Concho at 325-481-2646 or go to fortconcho.com