Celebrating an occasion like Black History Month offers a choice opportunity to think back on those who have gone before us and honor them in some way for the sacrifices they made for the betterment of all. United States history is full of African American men, women and children to whom America owes a great debt and one shining example were the Buffalo Soldiers of the U.S. Army, established by Congress in 1866 just after the Civil War.

Made up of former slaves, freemen and black Civil War soldiers, the Buffalo Soldiers comprised the first all-black regiments in history to serve during peacetime. The name encompasses four Army units: the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Regiments and the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments.

The Buffalo Soldiers were key to settling the American West as they risked life and limb building roads and escorting settlers, United States mail deliveries and railroad crews through the wild frontier, often battling Indian tribes that were said to have been fascinated with the curly-haired, dark-skinned soldiers they came to call “Buffalo Soldiers.” There are several versions of exactly how the intrepid soldiers got this name; however, the common denominator is that calling the men Buffalo Soldiers was a sign of high respect given by the first Americans who were impressed with the soldiers’ bravery and valor.

The Buffalo Soldiers participated in numerous military campaigns during America’s development including the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, and World Wars I and II among others. Nearly two-dozen Medals of Honor were presented to Buffalo Soldiers during our nation’s westward expansion.

Today, the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association carries forth the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers, an organization chartered and officially recognized by the U.S. Army and Department of Defense, with chapters across the country. Col. (Ret.) James Manning is president of the Greater Puget Sound Chapter of the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association. He and other members of the chapter will join with the Lakewood Historical Society Feb. 12 to present “142 Years and Counting: The Continuing Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers” at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of Lakewood City Hall.

Artifacts and photos will also be on display in Lakewood City Hall, and a special exhibit, “Buffalo Soldiers: Legacy of Honor,” from the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston will be displayed in the Lakewood Historical Museum.

Becky Huber is president of the society. Having retired from the military, she said presenting an evening dedicated to the Buffalo Soldiers is part personal mission and part effort to attract a broader audience to the society and to the Lakewood Historical Museum.

“Lakewood is a very diverse community,” she noted, pointing out that McChord Air Force Base and Ft. Lewis bring a wide variety of people to our area from all over the country. “We in the historical society need to reflect what our community is.” Contingents of the 9th and 10th Cavalry participated in maneuvers in the early 1900s in what is now Ft. Lewis and Lakewood, she said

Manning, a retired teacher who once had former Governor Gary Locke as a student, remarked on how important it is for young learners to be taught about great Americans like the Buffalo Soldiers, who all were precursors to the integration of the United States military and laid the foundation for men like Gen. (Ret.) Colin Powell to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then later to become the first African American to be appointed Secretary of State in 2001.

“There is a legacy upon which all of that is built,” Manning said. “It is incumbent upon us to let everyone know that this is part of United States history.”

The retired colonel also likes to give due homage to the men who inspired him along his own career path in the military, such as his older brother who was among the very first black Marines back in the early 1940s. “It’s the legacy of those who gave me good advice along the way who helped me become the person I am today,” Manning declared.

Manning said that up to a dozen members of the Puget Sound chapter will be present during the Lakewood Historical Society event, including 90-year-old William Jones, owner of Jones Glass and Used Materials at 1912 S. Wilkerson St. in Tacoma.

An ROTC graduate in 1953 from the historic black university West Virginia State College, Manning exited active duty in the Army in 1957 after succeeding in reaching the rank of officer. He immediately joined the Army Reserves, where he remained for 27 years. He graduated from Seattle University with a master’s in education administration and went on to teach in Seattle public schools. He was deputy chief of staff for logistics at the Presidio in San Francisco from which he retired in 1985.

Lakewood City Hall is located at 6000 Main St. SW. For more information, contact Huber at (253) 582-8682 or e-mail craftyhubers@comcast.net. Learn more about the Lakewood Historical Society at www.lakewoodhistorical.org.