Built to honor the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Regiment units that were stationed at Fort Riley and in Junction City, Kansas, the Buffalo Soldier Memorial pays tribute to the soldiers that served the United States in both peace and war. Like other monuments in Junction City, the Buffalo Soldier Memorial connects the past and present of Junction City in a way that brings the contemporary community of the city together.
Honoring the Buffalo Soldiers
Historically, the 9th calvary was one of a few segregated African American regiments while the 10th calvary was formed as a segregated African-American unit. The 10th Calvary was one of the original “Buffalo Soldier” regiments in the post–Civil War Regular Army. The “Buffalo Soldier” nickname was given to the Black Cavalry by Native American tribes who fought in the Indian Wars. Picking up on this historical significance, the Buffalo Soldier Memorial was created for the sole purpose of recognizing the Buffalo Soldiers’ contributions to the nation, to Fort Riley and to the formation of the state of Kanas.
The memorial wall of the Buffalo Soldier Memorial is constructed of native limestone and serves as the backdrop for a 9-foot bronze sculpted statue of a Buffalo Soldier by his horse. That solider is a composite of the 5 Buffalo Soldiers that were living in the area when the monument was created. The sculpture incorporates the features of all those people into the sculpture. Additionally, nine informational plaques detail the full history of the Buffalo Soldiers in the area and provide further context around their role with Fort Riley and the history of Junction City.
This monument and park are located close to the Buffalo Soldier’s old quarters which is where many of their children played in the early 20th Century during segregation. A modern playground is located within the vicinity of the monument, signifying what it means for the community to bridge these eras. Doing so was the culmination of a fundraising effort that lasted ten years and raised over $400,000. Those donors and donations have been memorialized in the monument itself, further demonstrating the connection between the history and community of Junction City.
“We Can, We Will” and “Ready and Forward”
As was detailed during the dedication of the famous Buffalo Soldier Memorial, Buffalo Soldiers selflessly served the United States in numerous wars, including the Indian Wars, The Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, the Mexican Expedition, and the European Theater in World War II. Their efforts are a reflection of the sacrifice and service these men gave to the United States of America and are reflected in the slogans for both regiments, “We Can, We Will” for the 9th and “Ready and Forward” for the 10th.
In commemorating the people, words and spirit of the Buffalo Soldiers, the Buffalo Soldier Memorial has been able to bridge the past and present of the Junction City community to create a legacy for the future of Kansas as a whole.
