Page 8 February 14, 2001 ®t|e ^íartíanh Obseruer Buffalo Soldiers of the Old West Native Americans consider the buffalo a sacred animal. All who took part in the hunting o f them would drink the anim al’s spirit - its blood. This was to complete the circle o f life. When Native Americans died, their ashes and dust would nourish the Earth. The Earth would nourish the veg etation that the animal ate. The Buffalo would feed and clothe the Native Americans, completing the circle o f life. From 1870 to the late 1800’s, Buffalo Soldiers had achieved one o f the most outstanding records in military history: they patrolled and kept the peace under the con ditions o f racism from the citi zens they protected, covering ter Black cavalry in the field. B y M ark L ittle for T he P ortland O bserver I grew up watching movies o f white Cavalry charging and riding to the rescue o f pioneers and covered wagon trains begin at tacked by Native Americans. Little did I know at the time that those images should have included the Black Buffalo men on horseback who served this country with distinction. Most o f their four regiments o f the 9th, 10th, 24th and 25th were stationed in the most THE LEGENDARY demanding regions o f unchartered territory o f the American South west. It was their Indian adver saries who gave them the nick name o f Buffalo Soldiers. Their black and curly hair resembled that o f the buffalo. They honored the Black cavalrymen for their bravery, and the troopers accepted the name as a mark o f honor. M c M E N A M IN S « Buffalo Soldier Sargeant in uniform with his wife in J888. Buffalo Soldiers re-enlisted several times because there weren't many job opportunities fo r blacks. AFFORDABLE JJ LOCK & KEY 503-284-9582 CAFE, SALOON and ROCK & ROLL HOTEL HOTEL ROOM RATES Queen $45 Full $35 Bunk $25 European-style lodging with shared baths. Room rates are the same for single or double occupancy. Add 11.5% county room tax. For information call toll-free I-866-27I-3377 4 /z FULL LOCKSMITH - SERVICE RE-KEY AND INSTALL LOCKS LOCKED OUT7-WE MAKE KEYS FROM SCRATCH HOUSE, OFFICE OR CAR Philly H onors B lack H istory M onth I or from Portland 503-335-8900 McMENAMINS W HITE EAGLE 836 NORTH RUSSELL • PORTL \NI> • ($<») 282-6« ÍO w w w .n ic in e n a in in s .c o m 445 NE Killingsworth 503.288.9367 ritories from the Mississippi to the Pacific Northwest and from the Rio Grande to the Canadian border. Buffalo Soldiers received some o f the worst assignments the Army had to offer. Some o f their duties included stringing tele graph lines and building or repair ing outposts. They also helped to capture Great W ar Chiefs and crim inals like Nana, Victorio, Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Lone Wolf, Pancho Villa and Billy the Kid. Their story is one o f significant achievements under adverse con ditions. They could not overcome prejudice and discrimination. This element in our social structure denied them the recognition for a job well done. Even through all o f this, their battle cry, “We can, We will” and “Ready and Forward,” could not be extinguished. The history o f the Buffalo Sol diers has special meaning and connection to Oregon history. One o f the most famous Buffalo Sol diers, Moses Williams, a winner o f the Congressional Medal o f Honor, served in Oregon in the 1880’s and is buried in Vancouver, Washington.