San Angelo Celebrates Buffalo Soldier Heritage Day

SAN ANGELO, TX - Today, Feb. 25, is Buffalo Soldier Heritage Day, and a celebration occurred at the Buffalo Soldier Memorial, situated next to the farmers market at 609 South Oakes St.

The event featured NAACP Buffalo Soldier Memorial founder Sherley Spears, among city officials, and others associated with the history of Buffalo Soldiers. 

San Angelo City Council Member for District Three, the district that houses the memorial, said, “This is one of the things that helped establish who we are in San Angelo.” 

“Buffalo Soldiers were actually part of establishing a lot of firsts in this particular community,” he said. 

Spears then spoke over the enduring legacy of the buffalo soldiers - Black soldiers of the regular Army who served predominantly west of the Mississippi post-Civil War.

These soldiers, belonging to all four Buffalo soldier regiments, played a significant role at Fort Concho between 1869 and 1885. 

The 10th Cavalry, arguably the most renowned unit, had its headquarters at the fort from 1875 to 1882. Notably, buffalo soldiers constituted half of the enlisted men at Fort Concho during its 22 active years.

Following the memorial presentation, the program shifted across the street to Fort Concho’s Barracks 1 Visitor Center. 

It was here where San Antonio author Jim Matthews conducted a book signing. 

Matthews, an authority on the Buffalo soldier unit, has penned a new book delving into their history titled “Always in the Vanguard: The Buffalo Soldiers of Company H, Tenth U. S. Cavalry.”