From the Chaplain's Desk
My dearest friends and readers, I'm honored to celebrate Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Month this July!
This special time recognizes the extraordinary bravery and contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers to our beloved Lone Star State.
This recognition is a legislated honor, thanks to Senate Bill 1457 of the 76th Regular Session (1999). Authored by Senator Royce West, coauthored by Senator Rodney Ellis, and sponsored by Representative Bob Hunter, this bill officially designated July as Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Month in Texas. This built on Senator Dan Kubiak's earlier efforts with House Bill 2031 (74th Regular Session, 1995), which honored Buffalo Soldiers through a pilot program.
The Buffalo Soldiers played an indispensable role in shaping Texas's history - their courage and resilience helped secure the frontier and build our state into what it is today. Their story is one of perseverance and honor. During this month, let's reflect on their incredible sacrifices and achievements. I encourage everyone to learn about their significant impact and ensure their legacy continues to inspire future generations.
Thank you for celebrating Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Month with us.
May we never forget their indelible mark on Texas and our nation.
Sincerely,
Chaplain Coy L. Poitier
Ready Forward! We Can.. We Will!
For more information please visit our website.
Texas Parks & Wildlife - Buffalo Soldiers
We look forward to seeing you further down the trail!
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Upcoming Programs
 Join us for a screening of a documentary on the American West's famous black soldiers as we celebrate Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Month this July.
Learn more about the legendary Buffalo Soldiers' unknown history, including their formation, lives, and struggles.
When: Friday, July 25th from 6:00pm-9:00pm
Where: Recreation Hall
Bring: Water, a snack if you need one
Cost: Free with $7 per person park entry fee or presentation of a Texas State Parks Pass. Children 12 and under are free to enter the park.
Programs are subject to location changes, postponement, or cancellation due to weather. Check our Facebook stories for the most up-to-date information on program details. Texas Buffalo Soldier Program Facebook
It is with the deepest sorrow that we share the passing of our dear friend, mentor, and hall of fame volunteer Sgt. Horace Williams.
Horace was a true Cowboy and true Buffalo Soldier. Simply put, Horace was a legend.
Sgt. Williams served two tours in Vietnam with Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry (Wolfhounds), 25th Infantry Division. He was wounded at wounded at CU CHI on February 10, 1966. For this he earned a Purple Heart.
Sgt. Williams was President of Co. A, 9th Cavalry, Buffalo Soldiers. Sgt. Williams led his crew public in parades, trail rides, rodeos, historical commemorations and ceremonies, and made appearances in public schools all around Central Texas.
Sgt. Williams also saddled up and travelled all across Texas helping the TPWD Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Program keep history alive telling stories of the Buffalo Soldiers, Cowboys, Vaqueros, Native American's, and Frontier Women. Some of those many miles included the Huff Wagon Train ride from El Paso to Houston with 200 students.
Sharing this rich history was his calling. Horace was an inspiration to so many....
Godspeed Trooper! You can rest easy now. Forever will you be in our hearts!
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Before you can celebrate the Buffalo Soldiers and their contributions to Texas and the United States you must give credit to those who came before. Those who helped paved the way for the Buffalo Soldiers.
These were the United States Colored Soldiers and the Colored Sailors of the US Navy. Approximately 200,000 black men served in the Army and the Navy and helped turn the tide for the North in winning the Civil War. Some from the USCT came to Texas as early as 1863.
When General Granger came to Galveston in 1865 and delivered the news on June 19th that the slaves of Texas were free he had several groups of USCT there to help keep the peace.
In honor of the 160th Anniversary of Juneteenth the TPWD Texas Buffalo Soldiers, The Buffalo Soldier National Museum, and the Living History Company worked together to bring the stories of the USCT to Texas at a large multi day event in Houston.
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This summer we welcomed Alexandra "Lexi" Allen to the BSHOP team as our intern. Here is a her bio.
"I have over 5 years of experience in teaching science courses in the high school public school setting. I graduated from Texas A&M Corpus Christi with my Bachelor's of Science in Biology - Summa Cum Laude in 2019 and am currently working on my Master's of Science in Biology through East Texas A&M. I love reading books and taking my dog, Remy, on adventures around Georgetown. I'm hoping to further my career using my passions of nature and science to promote learning and understanding in our communities."
Lexi hit the ground running traveling to program with Capt. Dolifka and Pvt. Mack at Bonham State Park. She has brought a new energy to the program and is enjoying learning the history of the Buffalo Soldiers. Lexi's big project for her internship with BSHOP has been to update and revamp the Junior Buffalo Soldier Guide. Her teacher's eye has been invaluable in this endeavor.
Lexi's internship will come to a close at the end of July. The BSHOP team hopes that she has had a great time with us. We want to wish her well in her new adventures after her summer with the Texas Buffalo Soldiers team!
Thank you Lexi for all your hard work!
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