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Fort Huachuca’s (Arizona) celebration of the Year of the Buffalo Soldier was held this July with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Soldier Legacy Plaza, honoring this important chapter of the Army’s history.
The Buffalo Soldier Legacy Plaza is anchored by the Buffalo Soldier statue, who serves as the guardian of the gateway to the historic area which was home to many Buffalo Soldiers.

In addition to providing a plaza and benches for visitors, plans include a kiosk with photos and information about the history of the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Huachuca.  Eventually, a walkway featuring markers with historic facts will connect the plaza to the fort’s museum.

The project should be completed by the end of 2007.

James Kimo Williams, artist in residence at Columbia College in Chicago who composed “Buffalo Soldiers” for the West Point Alumni Association in 1999, was a special guest at the ground-breaking.  Williams joined the U.S. Army as a combat engineer in 1970.  He later rejoined, serving as a captain in administration and as a warrant officer/bandmaster for the U.S. Army Reserve�s 85th Division Band. Elements of his composition, “Buffalo Soldiers,” with narration was presented during the ceremony.

Dr. Clarence Wilson, who had the vision for Fort Huachuca to erect the Buffalo Soldier statue during his time as a Soldier here in 1977, was a guest speaker at the ground-breaking.

Also in attendance were members of the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association, the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Clubs, and the Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers.

The U.S. Army Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca remembered and honored the legacy of Buffalo Soldiers by designating 2007 as the Year of the Buffalo Soldier. The state of Arizona designated 2007 as the Year of the Buffalo Soldiers with House Concurrent Resolution 2047 signed Feb. 22, 2007.

The ground-breaking ceremony took place just one day before July 28 anniversary of legislation enacting the creation of six regiments of the original Black units in 1866.

Fort Huachuca was founded in 1877 and the original cantonment area is a National Historic Landmark.  The Fort served as the home station for members of the nation’s all-Black Army units for nearly 53 continuous years.

Posted on January 8th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Preserving the Historical Record