SAN ANGELO, Texas — The historic Buffalo Soldiers once served at Fort Concho, and now, they are being celebrated for their bravery.
Beginning 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 28, a three-day celebration will take place at Fort Concho National Historic Landmark, 630 S. Oakes St., to honor the 9th and 10th Calvary and the 24th and 25th Infantry.
The event is being hosted by the San Angelo NAACP, which is also currently in the process of creating a Buffalo Soldier Memorial at El Paseo de Santa Angela.
The San Angelo NAACP was founded in 1946 with the goal of getting rid of racial discrimination in all aspects of life. The organization will be working in conjunction with Fort Concho to host the celebration and the weekend includes dinner, a military retreat, a film festival and a Buffalo Soldier Living History Program.
The first free events will be presented at 5:30 p.m. Thursday near the fort's parade grounds.
The Living History Department and the 344 Military Intelligence Battalion will be presenting the event and a reception will be held afterwards.
There will be a dinner and various presentations Friday, with Douglas "Woody" Woodward, Charles Young from the Territory of Arizona Buffalo Soldiers and a focus on the role of women during this time period.
Saturday will include refreshments, a free film festival and an interview about Buffalo Soldier Elijah Cox with folklorist Lamont Jack Perry.
For information on Friday's admission, go to sanangelonaacp.org.