BUFFALO SOLDIERS HONORED AT THE PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO - THE PRESIDIO TRUST AND OTHERS PUTTING THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD.

Buffalo Soldiers honored at the 

SF Presidio of San Francisco 

the Officers' Club - by the Presidio Trust -
November 11, 2018.

Over 500 Buffalo Soldiers lay interred at the Veteran's Cemetery - at the SF Presidio of San Francisco where I served SF Presidio of San Francisco and Presidio of San Francisco - a special event was held on this Veteran's Day 2018 - to honor our Veterans and their supporters - and a reception was held - to honor Ranger Rick Penn - for his 25 years of service - working for the National Park Service.

The Oakland - Buffalo Soldiers' Motor Cycle Club was present  - " One Club One Patch One Mindset ". Their prestige created an ambiance - reminiscent of the many events I held at the Presidio Officers' Club and the Golden Gate Club in previous years - going back to the year 2000.

At one time we were able to gather -

live Buffalo Soldiers here you have three -

Sgt. Mayor Ulysses Moore to the left, next Francisco Da Costa, Buffalo Soldier Ralph Hobson, and 

 Buffalo SoldierJohn Reid.
We held this event at the SF Presidio Officers' Club -
February 19, 2003.

November 11, 2018

The Buffalo Soldiers fought for this Nation -

at the Presidio the 9th and 10th Calvary were stationed -

so were the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiment -

over 500 Buffalo Soldiers remain interred at the

SF Veterans Cemetery - many of us pay our homage -

one singular day - Veterans' Day.

The Buffalo Soldiers served all over the world -

Cuba - with President Theodore Roosevelt 

the Rough Riders, in Tripoli, Libya, in Trieste, Italy,

in the Philippines, in Burma, the Buffalo Soldiers 

are respected all over the world.

November 11, 2018



November 11, 2018





My good friend Rick Penn -
and Francisco Da Costa Ranger for a day.

On November 11, 2018  - supporters

of the Buffalo Soldiers gathered to honor U.S. Veterans

and Ranger Rick Penn for the many years - 

he spent giving tours at the Presidio of San Francisco -

informing visitors more about the Buffalo Soldiers.

Buffalo Soldiers on their horses.

Colonel Charles Young -
the highest ranked Buffalo Soldier -
he should have been a General - 
he was smart, brave, and wrote the Standard Operating
Procedures to manage the Federal Lands in California -
today better known as the National Park Service.

Check this video :

https://abc7news.com/society/sf-ranger-works-to-keep-buffalo-soldier-legacy-alive/3097050/

At one time Blacks were the best known Cowboys in the United States. 

The Buffalo Soldiers were superior horsemen -  could compete with the best horsemen all over the world. The Native American horsemen - who mastered horse riding - up and down ravines - respected the Buffalo Soldiers and that says a lot.

The movies have the cowboys portrayed failing to give due respect and honor to Black Cowboys.

The all Black Calvary and the Buffalo Soldiers - played an important role interaction between the Native Americans and the Army - many Buffalo Soldiers hailed from the Reservations.

The Buffalo Soldiers accompanied the Pioneers to California - leading to the settlement, the building of the railway - and the prosperity that we now enjoy the fifth largest economy in the world.

The many stage stops - the Three Mile, the Five Mile, the Seven Mile - accompanying the Wells Fargo Stage - all over the Nation - now forgotten.

Here at the SF Presidio of San Francisco from the early 1989 to now - we have been fighting for a museum to honor the Buffalo Soldiers - most people are NOT aware of this fact. Here is some history that I posted on my website:

www.franciscodacosta.org

Here is one of many articles under the Title - Buffalo Soldiers:

http://www.franciscodacosta.org/articles/permanent_museum.html

November 11, 2018 - SF Presidio Officers' Club

Honoring the Buffalo Soldiers

In  due time - this history must be recorded - right - the wrong must be righted and that time in now.

At upper Fort Mason - one must proceed towards the Bay - and you notice a sign Black Point.

Buffalo Soldiers went down this path, down to the Bay - where they embarked on ships that took to them places - like the Philippines. 

The sign should have said Buffalo Soldiers - but some chose to use just the word " Black " - leaving out the precise words  "Buffalo Soldiers" - which should have been appropriate. 

Time will tell.

The Oakland, Buffalo Motorcycle Club -

One Club One Patch One Mindset

they did us all proud - by their presence -

and support of the Buffalo Soldiers.

At the SF Presidio of San Francisco we have over 40 sites - linked to the Buffalo Soldiers.

More - outside the Presidio of San Francisco - now is the time to right the wrong - more since we have the empirical data, artifacts, photographs, and what is more singular documents that can be produced - at the right time with the right people present - everything in writing.

We must be in the cockpit at all times - those time playing second fiddle at long gone - our time is now and our time has come.

Here is Anthony Powell at the Golden Gate Club -

at one Black History Month - where we

focused on the Buffalo Soldiers - 

Anthony Powell a Buffalo Soldiers' Historian -

the best in the world - his grandfather photographed

Buffalo Soldiers - his collection of Buffalo Soldiers'

is second to none - large corporations vying to buy his collection.

Tents as those seen above were built - 

where the Buffalo Soldiers lived -

the Officers who command the Buffalo Soldiers 

live in homes and housing quarters -

we have several locations at the SF Presidio of San Francisco

where the Buffalo Soldiers - lived in tents.

In years past - we put up exhibits such as the one

seen above - complete with photographs -

and other artifacts - saddles, guns, and other 

paraphernalia - we tried our best to built a museum -

at the SF Presidio of San Francisco -

that time has come - to honor the Buffalo Soldiers 

The Buffalo Soldiers were men of character -

I befriended many of them - ten, fifteen, twenty years - 
twenty five years - and more 

listened to the words of wisdom - did 

my best to help them in their golden years -

at one time we managed to gather 10 live Buffalo Soldiers 

most of them in the late 90s and early 100 years.

Buffalo Soldier - Ralph Hobson -
he retired from the Navy - Naval Air Station - Alameda

I attended his funeral -

he had his own Buffalo Soldiers museum -

at his home - in Vallejo, California - one of a kind artifacts -

he could tear apart huge engines and put them back together.

 -

 Ralph Hobson rarely spoke much - but constantly told me that he loved me - with his soft voice -

when Ralph Hobson passed away - by heart was heavy 

for many, many years.

For many years - I did my best to keep the fire

burning - the Buffalo Soldiers should be honored -

and given the highest respect -

the many myths addressed - the many untrue facts -

put to rest - we need a Buffalo Soldiers Museum - now -
they left their legacy - it must now be memorialized.

Long live the Buffalo Soldier -

even as we the few and brave -

fight hard to honor our Buffalo Soldiers 

in a meaningful manner.






I leave you with this photograph of 
a Buffalo Soldier - who son serves -
with the SF Police Department -
he shared this photograph with me -
some years ago - and I share it with you - respect it.







The Native Americans and the Buffalo Soldiers
shared a common destiny -
here is a family - a Buffalo Soldier's family.

My friends talk is cheap - we must walk the walk - and we must remember that the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers - will live forever. 

The younger generation - must be kept apprised - of the Truth - we must always speak Truth to Power.

I want to thank the SF Presidio Trust - Andrea Parker for organizing and putting the event together, Julie Brown for giving me a ride - as I struggled to make it to the SF Presidio Officers' Club and sharing some important thoughts,

Barbara Berglund Sokolav the SF Presidio Historian - Rick Penn for his 25 years service - the many Rangers and others that I met who work for the SF Presidio Trust and the National Park Service - keep doing what you all do - best - your heart in the right place.

Francisco Da Costa, Dedan  Kimati JiJaga,

 Michael Harris and Will Delaney.

I thank Michael Harris for being so enthusiastic and bringing so many together - at very short notice.

The Oakland, Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club - for representing the community at large - and their stellar interest and support for the Buffalo Soldiers and their legacy.

Strand tall and represent. When is dire straits send me a smoke signal - I will head your way with the calvary. 

Each and everyone present - you all honored the Veterans that laid their lives for us - others who have to deal with trials and tribulations - you support them - and they thank you very much.

I served as the last Congressional Liaison of SF Sixth United States Army and Presidio of San Francisco - before its deactivation. Worked for the National Park Service and before retiring the Unites State Park Police.

Today with others all supporters of the Buffalo Soldiers - we plan to execute some projects - foremost build a Buffalo Soldiers' Museum at the San Francisco Presidio of San Francisco. With fortitude, tenacity, hope, love, and utter determination - we will move forward - we ask for your sincere support. God bless you all.