[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 25, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E69]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            BUFFALO SOLDIERS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS STUDY ACT

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                               speech of

                             HON. TOM COLE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 24, 2012

  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I stand today in support of H.R. 1022, the 
Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act, which will allow the 
Department of the Interior to study the role of Buffalo Soldiers and 
how they defended our first national parks. This is a key step in 
preserving the legacy of the Army's first African American infantry and 
cavalry units and the contributions they made to our Nation.
  Although history has often overlooked the contributions of the 
Buffalo Soldiers, all Americans from all walks of life would benefit 
from learning about this often overlooked chapter in our history. The 
legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers dates back to post Civil War days. 
Although African Americans have fought with distinction in all of our 
country's military engagements, their future in the Army was in doubt 
after the Civil War. In July 1866, however, Congress passed legislation 
establishing two cavalry regiments and four regiments of infantrymen, 
later merging two, whose composition was made up entirely of black 
soldiers. The troopers of the 9th and 10th Cavalries developed into two 
of the most distinguished fighting units in the Army and who were 
stationed at Ft. Sill in Oklahoma in the late 1870s. While they 
constructed key buildings on the post that still stand today, the 
Buffalo Soldiers' biggest contribution was to preserve the integrity of 
the land-runs which are such an integral part of Oklahoma, the Sooner 
state's, history and identity. Their bravery and fierce fighting 
techniques on the battlefield inspired Native Americans to call them 
``Buffalo Soldiers.''
  The Buffalo Soldiers served the United States in the harshest 
environments and under the most difficult conditions, and preserving 
their legacy will ensure that the Buffalo Soldiers' service will be 
appropriately memorialized. The Buffalo Soldiers' story is ultimately 
about the triumph not just of African American troops over prejudice 
and injustice, but about the movement of our nation westward, and 
toward a more tolerant and courageous society.
  As such, I support the effort to evaluate the feasibility of a great 
National Historic Trail along the Buffalo Soldiers' route from their 
historic military post at the San Francisco Presidio to Yosemite and 
Sequoia National Parks. Identifying properties that could be listed in 
the National Register of Historic Places or designations as National 
Historic Landmarks will help keep the Buffalo Soldiers' story alive and 
bring to light, for future generations, their story of courage while 
serving their country.
  We must all continue to work, together and as individuals, each day 
to make sure that our country truly is a community of all people and 
recognize those that came before us to make this nation strong, 
prosperous and free. We should never forget the challenges our 
predecessors faced in the creation and preservation of this great 
nation.

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