Buffalo Soldier Heritage Day at Ft. Concho Sunday

SAN ANGELO, TX -- Fort Worth artist and sculptor Burl Washington will be the featured speaker at Buffalo Soldier Heritage Day from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, at Fort Concho.

Sponsored by the fort in partnership with the Fort Concho Foundation and the San Angelo chapter of the NAACP, the free event will be in the Commissary Building at Burgess Street and East Avenue C. 

According to the City of San Angelo Public Information Department, Washington will talk about his career portraying African-American historical figures, including Buffalo Soldiers. He will have many of his works on display and for sale. Members of the Fort Concho Buffalo Soldiers living history program will staff special displays of period uniforms and equipment. Refreshments will follow an authentic trail-style menu.

Buffalo Soldiers, so called by their Indian foes because the troops’ dark, matted hair reminded them of a bison’s mane, were posted at Fort Concho from 1869-85 with members of the 24th and 25th Infantry, and the 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments. Fort Concho served as the 10th Cavalry’s headquarters under famed commander Col. Benjamin Grierson from 1875-82. Over Fort Concho’s 22-year history, Buffalo Soldiers comprised half of the troop strength; there were periods when the post was staffed exclusively by African-American enlisted men.

The local NAACP is also recognizing the 110th anniversary of the national organization, founded on Feb. 12, 1909, on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Throughout the month, the local chapter, founded in 1946, will host and support activities recognizing and celebrating the month-long Black History observances.

For more information about the program, contact Fort Concho at 325-481-2646 or Sherley Spears with the NAACP at [email protected].