Archive for August, 2009

Promote Charles Young Petition

Posted August 23, 2009 at by Geneva Brett, VP.

Downloadable - Petition to Promote Charles Young to Brigadier General

If you’re able to read this you’ve heard of “being in the right place at the wrong time”. In some respects that’s true of Charles Denton Young. He was in the right places; West Point, Wilberforce University, the United States Army…. the timing was both right and wrong…..

Colonel Charles Young

The idea of volunteering in the Army to ”Be All You Can Be” was the reason many Black Americans joined the all black segregated military units established by Congress in 1866 and for decades thereafter. The Army promised the same thing then as it does now; a dependable wage, food, lodging, clothing, education, adventure, camraderie, the opportunity for advancement based on merit, honor, dignity, and a show of patriotism.

By any standards Charles Young was a remarkable leader of men during both war and peace. He was all the more remarkable considering the era in which he lived, served and died. Unfortunately he did not receive the honor, allocades and advancement due him based on merit.

As a person and as a nation we have examined many yesterdays and realized we could have done better. No matter our motive, no matter our desire; we cannot change yesterday, but we can make history by our actions today.

Together we can ask our Commander In Chief (President Barak Obama) to honor a United States Veteran of Foreign Wars as he should have been during his life. Charles Denton Young gave his very life in service to America; he deserves to be recognized for his accomplishments.

Please, and thanks, become a part of history and truly make a difference. Download the Petition (PDF - 140 KB) to President Obama to Promote Charles Young to Brigadier General; get 19 signatures on the sheet, email, mail (Los Banos Buffalo Soldiers 1350 E. Pacheco Blvd., Ste. B-169, Los Banos, CA. 93635), or fax (209.827.3555) it back to us. By giving a few minutes of your time you can help make history, and honor a deserving Veteran.

As was the motto of the 9th Cavalry, which Charles Young led through Los Banos in 1903 on his way to becoming the First Black Superinetendent of a National Park (Sequoia), as well as this grassroots effort to promote him … We Can, We Will!

And WE wholeheartedly thank you:)

Field Trip to Allensworth CA

Posted August 5, 2009 at by David Ofwono, President.

Category: Documentary, Uncategorized

UPDATE - The Los Banos Buffalo Soldiers Association along with various supporters and interested individuals will still be attending the ceremony on October 10th. We invite anyone who is interested in joining us to do so. Please meet us in the Los Banos Wal-Mart parking Lot, October 10th @ 7:00 am; we’ll depart the Wal-Mart Parking lot at 7:30.

See latest blog post for more info.

Col. Allen Allensworth, Smithsonian Institute

Born into slavery, Allen Allensworth (1842-1914) escaped during the Civil War and served with the Union Army. After the war he and his brother operated two highly successful restaurants in St. Louis, while Allen also managed to continue his formal education. In 1871 Allen Allensworth became a minister, and in 1877 he met and married Josephine Leavel, a young school teacher and talented pianist and organist. In 1886. Allensworth accepted a commission in the Army as a Chaplain to serve in the all Black 24th Army Infantry. When Allensworth retired in 1906, he held the rank of lieutenant colonel and was not only the highest ranking Chaplain in the Army, but the highest ranking Black officer of this time.

The Town of Allensworth is Born - After his retirement from the Army, Colonel Allensworth, Professor William Payne, and three other Black men decided to establish a self-governed town for Black people. They envisioned a place where Blacks could own property and achieve their full economic potential free from the discriminatory laws and practices of the time.

Allensworth California

The town of Allensworth is now preserved as Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park of the State of California Park System.

Allensworth is scheduled for closure due to budget problems! Please help us bring an awareness of the importance of Allensworth in California and Black History by attending this rededication and signing the petition to keep the park open.

Field Trip Details

We are asking for the public’s help by providing donations to pay for the *trip. Donation amounts to start @ $25.00 but of course ANY amount will be welcome. Checks and money orders can be sent to our address made out to “The LBBSA”. Please put “Attention Allensworth Field Trip Committee” on the envelope and send it to:

Los Banos Buffalo Soldiers 9th & 10th Calvary Association
Attenion: Allensworth Field Trip Committee
1350 E. Pacheco Blvd, Ste; B-167
Los Banos, CA 93635

Deadline for Registration and Donations for this Trip is
October 4th and there is a limit of 60 students on the Bus.

>> Allensworth Registration Form

When: October 10, 2009 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Where: Allensworth, California

Why: Attend the rededication of Allensworth. Learn about a unique part of California
and US history and get to know this Historic State Park.

Itinerary: To be provided via email.

* Your donation will be applied to a general field trip fund and not to a specific field trip.