Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 10-21-16 Online Edition

FYI/Local
Middleton Class Of 1957 Announces Meeting
Buffalo Soldiers Recipients Of ‘Lamp Of Knowledge’ Award
On Thursday, October 27th at 1 p. m., the Middleton High School Class of 1957 will be meeting at New Progress Missionary Baptist Church, 3307 Shadowlawn Avenue.
Lunch will be served, and for more information and to confirm your attendance, call Rosita Graham at (813) 875-2373, or Jackie Walker at (813) 842-5088.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Monday, October 24th, an appreciation program will be held for the Woods and Wanton Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers, 9th and 10th Cavalry Horse As- sociation, Inc. The event will take place at the library, begin- ning at 5:30 p.m.
The organization is being honored as part of the Robert W. Saunders Library Founda- tion’s Black History Experience.
“The Black History Experience (BHE) Series was created to honor those in our community who helped to preserve the his- tory and accomplishments of Blacks in Hillsborough County. We seek to recognize those who keep Black History Alive,” Fred Hearns, President Emeritus, of the Robert W. Saunders Foun- dation, Inc., said.
The origin of the Buffalo Sol- diers dates back to 1865 with the ending of the Civil War. After the war ended, the gov- ernment organized the African American soldiers to protect the settlers from the Indians as they moved across the country. It has been said that the Native Amer- icans called the Black service- men Buffalo Soldiers because of their fierce fighting ability and their physical appearance.
In 1898, a group of Buffalo Soldiers camped in Tampa in
MS. VERYLYN B. CROMPTON
President of the Woods and Wanton Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers
May and June while preparing to leave for Cuba to fight in the Spanish-American War.
An historic marker in recog- nition of their visit to Tampa stands at the intersection of W. Columbus Drive and Central Avenue. The marker states, “The Buffalo Soldiers in Tampa Heights.”
The soldiers went on to fight bravely in Cuba, helping Amer- ican troops, Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders capture San Juan Hill and win the war. Although they returned home as heroes, their bravery and serv- ice earned little more than a footnote in history.
Thomas Edison commis-
sioned some of the earliest silent film still in existence when he photographed Buffalo Soldiers in Tampa in 1898.
There are several chapters of the Buffalo Soldiers organiza- tion throughout the country. The Tampa Chapter of the Woods and Wanton Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers, 9th and 10th Cavalry was founded by veterans John H. Padgett, Is- rael Tillman, Jr., and Charles Vann. The organiza- tion bears the names of Sgt. Brent Woods and M. Sgt. George Wanton both of whom won the United States Medal Of Honor for their exem- plary military service.
It is the first registered chap- ter in the State of Florida.
Today, the Woods and Wan- ton Chapter of the Buffalo Sol- diers continue its commitment to foster patriotism, courage and self-reliance among today’s youth. Currently, Ms. Verylyn B. Crompton is the Chapter President.
During the presentation, Chapter members will present local and national history of the organization.
The Robert W. Saunders Li- brary Foundation, in conjunc- tion with the Robert W. Saunders Library, 1505 N. Ne- braska Avenue, where Mrs. Carrie Hurst is the Senior Li- brarian.
Howard W. Blake Class Of 1966
Calling all classmates of the Howard W. Blake High School Class of 1966! The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 27, 2016 @ 10 A. M. at the Open Café, 3222 N. 34th St. The agenda item is the Hol- iday Celebration.
For any additional information, call 813-453-6887.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-A