Wednesday, July 28, 2021
The first peacetime all-Black army regiment, which we honor on Buffalo Soldiers Day, July 28th each year, was formed mainly to keep order in the Wild West after the Civil War. In such a rough-and-tumble place, where unknown natural dangers and thieves abounded, the buffalo soldiers had extremely low desertion rates. These brave men of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments were inexplicably named the ‘buffalo soldiers’ not by their own leadership, but by the Native American tribes they came into contact with — and no one quite knows why! These troops helped catch cattle thieves, protect national parks, ensure the safe travel of settlers from the East, and much more. Today, we honor their service in helping our country stay safe, and being a groundbreaking step towards greater racial equality in the military. Please listen to our fascinating podcast show on the Buffalo Soldiers—great stories, important lessons, and true inspiration!