By Hunter H.R. No. 437 76R8691 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 comprised 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 1986, a 1-23 reenactment unit, the Tenth Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers at Fort 1-24 Concho, was formed, and in the 1990s, a Ninth Cavalry living 2-1 history unit was formed with the Texas Parks and Wildlife 2-2 Department and has performed at state parks and other venues; and 2-3 WHEREAS, During the month of July, youth throughout the state 2-4 will focus on the multicultural heritage of Texas by participating 2-5 in educational programs related to the Buffalo Soldiers, and the 2-6 youth will gather on the steps of the State Capitol on July 28 to 2-7 honor the pioneers who settled this state; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Founded in 1990 by the Soldiers in Blue Committee in 2-9 Abilene, and directed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 2-10 the Texas Buffalo Soldiers Program has expanded into a statewide 2-11 initiative that has reached thousands of youth and families through 2-12 its living history demonstrations; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Augmenting educational programs about the soldiers 2-14 is the Texas Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trails of Texas Project, 2-15 which promotes the history of the Buffalo Soldiers, vaqueros, black 2-16 cowboys, Native American Indians, frontier women, and other 2-17 cultural groups in Texas during the 1800s with the primary focus 2-18 being their shared heritages; and 2-19 WHEREAS, The idea for the heritage trails was developed by A. 2-20 C. and Gloria Jackson of Abilene; James and Robbyne Fuller of 2-21 Midland; Eric Strong of Lubbock; and Ken Pollard of the Texas Parks 2-22 and Wildlife Department in Austin; the objective of the project is 2-23 to inform and involve Texas communities in the preservation of the 2-24 history of significant minority citizens and sites and properties 2-25 in our proud state; and 2-26 WHEREAS, The bravery and dedication of the Texas Buffalo 2-27 Soldiers contributed significantly to the legendary history of the 3-1 Lone Star State and they are truly deserving of special recognition 3-2 at this time; now, therefore, be it 3-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 3-4 Legislature hereby recognize July 1999 as Texas Buffalo Soldiers 3-5 Month and July 28, 1999, as Texas Buffalo Soldiers Capitol Salute 3-6 Day and extend warmest best wishes to the members of the 3-7 organization's delegation on their visit to Austin; and, be it 3-8 further 3-9 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-10 prepared for the Soldiers in Blue Committee as an expression of 3-11 high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.