The Buffalo Soldiers Will Ride Again For Museum TwoYear Anniversary



They have wowed audiences from as far away as Spain and now Newnan will have an opportunity to experience the Grierson Buffalo Soldiers of Georgia. Founded in the early nineties, this organization has performed around the country and abroad dressed in the full regalia of the legendary Tenth United States Calvary. In celebration of its second year anniversary, the Coweta County African American Heritage Museum and Research Center welcomes the public to come out and experience this dynamic presentation on Saturday, July 9th from 11:00am until 3:00pm. Admission is free.

The Grierson Buffalo Soldiers will ride on horseback and demonstrate some of the actual commands utilized by the Tenth Calvary. After their presentation, they will give children an opportunity to ride a few feet on their horses. They will also give an oral history of this famous regiment, which may have included a Newnan native.

President and Founder of the Grierson's Buffalo Soldiers of Georgia, Don North, loaned part of his extensive collection of Buffalo Soldier memorabalia to the museum in March which has been on display since then. The museum will be open on July 9 for anyone who wants to see the artifacts along with the other exhibits. North and his team are looking forward to the anniversary celebration.

"We always enjoy the response and questions from the audience because many people have never heard of the Buffalo Soldiers. Our aim is to show the dignity of this group and not really focus on the war that they fought in."

The Buffalo Soldiers were formed after the Civil War as Congress reorganized the peacetime regular army in the summer of 1866. It recognized the military achievements of black soldiers by authorizing six regiments of black troops, two of cavalry and four of infantry. The calvary regiments were the Ninth United States Cavalry and the Tenth United States Cavalry. The Buffalo Soldiers are the men of the Tenth Calvary. They received that name from the Cheyenne warriors, a Native American tribe that they were fighting against during the Indian War. Colonel Benjamin Grierson was the first African American commander of the Tenth Calvary.

The exhibit on display at the Coweta County African American Heritage Museum and Research Center includes: An authentic Saddle from the 1904 regiment; Model of a Guide on (the flag used circa 1877); A hat (circa 1870's before they switched to the brown hat's used today); A pistol belt (circa 1865) and books about the Buffalo Soldiers which date back to 1930's.

Cassandra Hollis, Public Relations Director for the African American Alliance, Inc. believes this event will be educational as well as entertaining. "Families will truly have a good time at this event. Perhaps more importantly, they will walk away with a history lesson that they may not receive anywhere else," she said.

The public is invited to celebrate the second year anniversary of the Coweta County African American Museum and Research Center with the Grierson Buffalo Soldiers presentation and exhibit on Saturday, July 9th, 11:00am - 3:00pm. The museum is located at 92 Farmer Street. Admission is free, however, donations are welcomed. Normal operating hours are Mon - Fri, 10am - 3pm and by appointment on Saturdays. The museum is closed on Sundays. For more information you may contact the museum at 770-683-7055.





The Buffalo Soldiers Will Ride Again For Museum TwoYear Anniversary