The Union Baptist Church of Blackfork will host a Dedication Ceremony for the Garden Tomb of the Unknown Buffalo Soldier on Saturday, Aug. 1 at the church. There will be a gathering and welcome at 11 a.m., followed by the Dedication Ceremony at noon.
The Buffalo Soldiers were originally members of the U.S. 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments and were formed in 1866 as the first all-Black peacetime regiments in the regular U.S. Army. Stationed primarily in the remote Western frontier, these men were tasked with protecting westward expansion, constructing forts, guarding the mail, and protecting settlers from outlaws. Despite facing severe institutional racism and under-resourced conditions, the Buffalo Soldiers maintained incredibly low desertion rates and exceptionally high morale.
The Union Baptist Church is the oldest Black church in continuous service in Ohio. It’s located on State Route 93, several miles south of Oak Hill in Lawrence County.
866 Co Rd 39
Oak Hill Ohio 45656
United States
