{"id":5804,"date":"2022-08-04T13:41:24","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T13:41:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=5804"},"modified":"2022-08-04T13:41:41","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T13:41:41","slug":"buffalo-soldiers-a-small-but-mighty-contingent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2022\/08\/04\/buffalo-soldiers-a-small-but-mighty-contingent\/","title":{"rendered":"Buffalo Soldiers: A Small but Mighty Contingent"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Buffalo Soldiers PIO Fred LeFebvre<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Truth Staff<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This year, Ohio became the first state in the nation to declare July 28 Ohio Buffalo Soldier Day annually. House Bill 238 \u2013 co-sponsored by Toledo\u2019s State Rep Paula Hicks-Hudson \u2013 passed the Ohio House unanimously, then the Ohio Senate unanimously and was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine earlier this year.<\/p>\n

This past Thursday, July 28, the governor\u2019s representative, Christa Luttmann, Northwest Regional Liaison for the governor\u2019s office, presented a plaque to the Toledo Buffalo Soldiers commemorating the new state day and honoring the gallant service the nation\u2019s Buffalo Soldiers have rendered to their nation for so many years in the past.<\/p>\n

During a ceremony at Wilson Park in north Toledo, the local Buffalo Soldiers received that plaque at a park they have adopted in recent years, received a donation of $3,500 from the Paragon Msionic Lodge # 788 and donated an additional $500 to keep the Wilson Park swimming pool open for local neighborhood kids.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey give back,\u201d said former Mayor Mike Bell during the ceremony. \u201cWhen you see Buffalo Soldiers, it\u2019s about something good happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Toledo Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club was founded on October 1, 2013 when six people came together. They later formed a not-for-profit corporation in order to \u201crepresent and educate people about the heritage and rich past of the U.S. Army\u2019s Cavalry and Infantry Buffalo Soldiers, through participating in community service events \u2026\u201d reads the published information.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Buffalo Soldiers Paula Hicks-Hudson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The group has been active since their foundation in the community serving a range of citizens, from youth to seniors. They interact with students at four Toledo Public elementary schools; they provide residents with materials on preparing for disasters; they offer free meals to veterans on Veterans Day, they conduct workshops on issues of awareness and engagement such as \u201cwhat to do when stopped by the police among a range of community engagement programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are a small contingent but a might contingent,\u201d said State Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson, a member who serves as legal counsel for the club.<\/p>\n

Other members present at last week\u2019s celebration were: Earl Mack, president; Fred LeFebvre, the public information officer and secretary; Lorinda McCalebb, treasurer; Kenneth Reeves, sergeant at arms and Lucretia Stewart, a visiting member from the Detroit club.<\/p>\n

The nickname \u201cBuffalo Soldiers\u201d was given to members to the all-African-American peacetime regiments of the 9th<\/sup> and 10th<\/sup> U.S. Army Cavalry and four infantry units by Native Americans because of their bravery and fierce fighting skills and because of their dark curly hair and beards.<\/p>\n

President George H. W. Bush proclaimed July 28 as National Buffalo Soldiers Day in July 1992 and a monument was erected on that first National day to a Buffalo Soldier at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and dedicated by General Colin Powell.<\/p>\n

Last week\u2019s event culminated with a tour of the swimming pool the Buffalo Soldiers have kept open for students and food provided by Chef Jim Rhegness food Truck. Rhegness has worked with the Buffalo Soldiers often at their events to provide free food for attendees.<\/p>\n