63rd Annual Buffalo Soldier Memorial Ceremony

By Jennifer L. Warren

HIGHLAND FALLS – Described as symbols of excellence, service, duty and honor by United States Military Academy Captain, Ashley Mohr, they were further detailed as men who would endure and leave indelible marks on our nation.

These revered, stalwart men were the Buffalo Soldiers, and a huge portion of their footprint was felt locally at the United States Military Academy, when the Army was authorized to raise two regiments of black cavalry- which were to become the 9th and 10th colored Cavalry Regiments- who trained a host of soldiers as part of the Cavalry Detachment at West Point. So, it was only fitting that surrounded by a large, impressive Buffalo Soldier monument, that once again these iconic men were saluted for their immeasurable contributions on and off the military training fields.

“The Buffalo Soldiers Association of West Point was founded by African-American Buffalo Soldiers from the Highland Falls Community 63 years ago, including Staff Sergeant, Sanders Matthews Sr., whose likeness is on the Monument here,” said Accetta Francesco, 1st Sergeant Retired Military and Community Impact Advisor for the Buffalo Soldiers Association of West Point, as he welcomed in guests, many of them dignitaries in attendance. “Now, led by his granddaughter, Dr. Aundrea Matthews, whose unique zeal and unwavering commitment to the Mission of the Buffalo Soldiers Association never wavers.”

Focused on honoring, promoting and preserving the history and contributions of these Soldiers that faithfully served the United States of America, the Association was joined by charter organizations and their devoted members from an assortment of states, spanning the country, all coming to lend their support, respect and love.

“The ceremony, prestige and history of the Buffalo Soldiers brings us here today to support the West Point Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers,” said “Magic” from the Boston, Massachusetts Chapter, who was in attendance for the sixth year. “We helped raise money for the last six years to help have the statue here of the Buffalo Soldier put up.”

Established by the United States Congress as the first-all black Army regiments in peacetime, the Buffalo Soldiers formed during the 19th Century, serving on the American Frontier. Dubbed the “Buffalo Soldiers” nickname by their American-Indian wartime opponents, it was a title that eventually extended to all African-American Regiments established in 1866.

Their journey-laden with fighting for equality and overcoming insurmountable odds, was one that the event’s guest speaker, Clara Adams-Ender, was able to connect with on multiple levels. Carrying the distinction of the first African-American nurse corporal officer to graduate from the United States Army Command and General Staff College, Adams-Ender is the author of the 2001 memoir, “My Rise to the Stars: How a Sharecropper’s Daughter Became an Army General.”

“I’m very happy to be here for this afternoon’s important ceremony,” said Adams-Ender, who centered many of her remarks upon the women in the military and their successes. “I’m very happy for the women who were able to attend this Academy and others.” Adams-Ender, who also helped lay the ceremonial wreath near the Monument, continued, “What is so special today is also that recognition of women, only one served as a Buffalo Soldier; it’s important to tie women in with the Buffalo Soldiers, as both often have felt like outsiders, and even though there were sometimes questions about it, we do belong, just like they belonged.”

The Ceremony also included the mentioning of the first African-American United States Military Academy Female Graduate, Pat Locke, as well as a symbolic exchange of gifts between representatives from African-Americans and Indigenous People populations, signifying; reconciliation, making peace, ending hostilities, burying the hatchet and offering apologies for harm imposed. Taking place during a steady rainfall, the closing segment of the program, not only connected the present day to the Buffalo Soldier time period, but carried with it a much embraced type of cleansing and renewal.

“We Can, We Will,” the regimental motto of the 9th Cavalry Regiment, as well as “Ready and Forward,” the words symbolic of the 10th Cavalry Regiment, were also proudly echoed.
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