U Street: “Buffalo Thunder” Honors African American Soldiers
Click on the collage for the slide show: Members of the Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers on Sunday at the African American Civil War Memorial at U and 12th Streets NW. Their bikes were lined up on Vermont Avenue between T and U Streets. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Luis Gomez. You can view photos of Sunday’s Buffalo Thunder event on Flickr.
Thousands of members of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers from chapters across the country from gathered Sunday at the African American Civil War Memorial on U Street. They were there for “Buffalo Thunder,” which honored African Americans who served in the U.S. military. Some were also in town to participate in Rolling Thunder, the annual motorcycle event held each Memorial Day weekend; Rolling Thunder is dedicated to prisoners of war and those Missing in Action in the Vietnam War.
Who were the Buffalo Soldiers? As they explain on their Facebook Page, “The name, patch, purpose, and charter specifically pay homage to the original 9th and 10th cavalry black Army units authorized by congress in 1866 and who were subsequently named Buffalo Soldiers by native-American Indians. We are bonded by a camaraderie of military service or uniformed civilian service and an affection for large motorcycles that we enjoy riding.”
The African American Civil War Memorial is at 1200 U Street NW; the Museum is now at a new location, 1925 Vermont Avenue NW.
