By Hunter H.R. No. 249
76R5275 MDM-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to pay
1-2 tribute to the renowned military units known as the Buffalo
1-3 Soldiers who played such a significant role in the history of the
1-4 Lone Star State; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Buffalo Soldiers were African-American soldiers who
1-6 fought with distinction during the period from 1866 to 1892; they
1-7 were given their name by the Plains Indians; and
1-8 WHEREAS, Among the many outstanding officers who served their
1-9 state and nation with the Buffalo Soldiers were Henry O. Flipper,
1-10 Benjamin H. Grierson, Abner Doubleday, William Rufus Shafter,
1-11 Joseph A. Mower, and Edward Hatch; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Combatants in most of the major frontier campaigns
1-13 of the period, Buffalo Soldiers fought with valor against the
1-14 Cheyenne, Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Sioux, and Arapaho Indians; 13
1-15 enlisted men from the four regiments that compromised the Buffalo
1-16 Soldiers earned the Medal of Honor during the Indian wars, as did
1-17 six officers; in addition, five more enlisted men were accorded
1-18 that prestigious decoration for their efforts during the
1-19 Spanish-American War; and
1-20 WHEREAS, In the 1960s, public interest in the Buffalo
1-21 Soldiers was rekindled by a John Ford film, Sergeant Rutledge, and
1-22 the publication of several scholarly histories; in 1965, a
1-23 reenactment unit, the Tenth Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers, was formed,
1-24 and in the 1990s, a similar unit with the Texas Parks and Wildlife
2-1 Department has performed at state parks and other venues; and
2-2 WHEREAS, During the month of July, youth throughout the state
2-3 will focus on the multicultural heritage of Texas by participating
2-4 in educational programs related to the Buffalo Soldiers, and the
2-5 youth will gather on the steps of the State Capitol on July 28 to
2-6 honor the pioneers who settled this state; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Founded in 1990 by the Soldiers in Blue Committee in
2-8 Abilene, and directed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
2-9 the Texas Buffalo Soldiers Program has expanded into a statewide
2-10 initiative that has reached thousands of youth and families through
2-11 its living history demonstrations; and
2-12 WHEREAS, Augmenting educational programs about the soldiers
2-13 is the Texas Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trails of Texas Project,
2-14 which promotes the history of the Buffalo Soldiers, vaqueros, black
2-15 cowboys, Native Americans, frontier women, and other minority
2-16 groups in Texas during the 1800s with the primary focus being the
2-17 shared cultural heritages; and
2-18 WHEREAS, The idea for the heritage trails was developed by A.
2-19 C. and Gloria Jackson of Abilene; James and Robbyne Fuller of
2-20 Midland; Eric Strong of Lubbock; and Ken Pollard of the Texas Parks
2-21 and Wildlife Department in Austin; the objective of the project is
2-22 to inform and involve Texas communities in the preservation of the
2-23 history of significant minority citizens and sites and properties
2-24 in our proud state; and
2-25 WHEREAS, The bravery and dedication of the Texas Buffalo
2-26 Soldiers contributed significantly to the legendary history of the
2-27 Lone Star State and they are truly deserving of special recognition
3-1 at this time; now, therefore, be it
3-2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
3-3 Legislature hereby recognize July 1999 as Texas Buffalo Soldiers
3-4 Month and July 28, 1999, as Texas Buffalo Soldiers Capitol Salute
3-5 Day and extend warmest best wishes to the members of the
3-6 organization's delegation on their visit to Austin; and, be it
3-7 further
3-8 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-9 prepared for the Soldiers in Blue Committee as an expression of
3-10 high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.