[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9822]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     HONORING THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a Resolution to 
honor a group of Americans who have dedicated their lives to serving 
and protecting our Nation.
  As we approach Memorial Day, we should take time to remember the 
sacrifices and achievements of our armed forces. In doing so, I would 
like to recognize the heroic African Americans who served in the Ninth 
and Tenth Horse Cavalry Units of the U.S. Army. These units first were 
established at the end of the Civil War and eventually were ordered to 
the Western Frontier, where they earned the name ``Buffalo Soldiers.'' 
These men were instrumental in the realization of our Manifest Destiny 
by guarding settler communities and securing new western land. These 
brave American soldiers continued to serve our country in the Spanish-
American War as part of Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders and again 
during World War II, both in Europe and here at home as our domestic 
defense in California against a possible Japanese invasion.
  The Buffalo Soldiers were truly brave Americans to which our country 
owes a great debt. I would like to draw special attention to a soldier 
in their ranks--Colonel Charles Denton Young. Colonel Young was a 
lifelong resident of my home state of Ohio and contributed greatly to 
his country. He graduated from West Point in 1884 as only the third 
African American to ever receive a diploma from the Academy. Owing to 
his strength, perseverance, mental and physical toughness, and a 
natural ability to lead, Young eventually was promoted to the rank of 
Colonel, which was the highest rank ever achieved by an African 
American at that time.
  Leading his men on the battle field, however, was not the only way 
Colonel Young had an influence on the people around him. He took an 
active role in his community as an educator and mentor to students at 
Wilberforce University in Ohio. Colonel Young was a person whom others 
wished to emulate, and continue to emulate today, as Secretary of State 
Colin Powell has cited Colonel Young as one of his earliest role 
models. I believe I can speak for all Ohioans when I say that we are 
extremely proud of Colonel Young and his contributions to our nation, 
and I believe that America has great cause to share in this pride.
  I ask that when celebrating the great accomplishments of our armed 
forces this Memorial Day, we do not forget our Buffalo Soldiers. I 
would like to urge all Americans to honor the Buffalo Soldiers for the 
strength, valor, dedication, and courage they exhibited during their 
service. The sacrifices they made allow us to live as we do today--in a 
proud and free United States of America.

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