Grateful – Bishop Hezekiah Walker, L.F. Crusade Choir, Dave Hollister

Somebody Prayed – Vanessa Bell Armstrong

Buffalo Soldiers!

Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  The nickname was given to the "Negro Cavalry" by the Native American tribes they fought; the term eventually became synonymous with all of the African-American regiments formed in 1866.

Although several African-American regiments were raised during the Civil War to fight alongside the Union Army (including the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and the many United States Colored Troops Regiments), the "Buffalo Soldiers" were established by Congress as the first peacetime all-black regiments in the regular U.S. Army. Many African-Americans took a long hard look at military service which offered shelter, education, steady pay, medical attention and a pension. Some, such as Cathay Williams, who later enlisted as William Cathay, the first female Buffalo Soldier, decided it was much better than frequent civilian unemployment. Congress recognized the military merits of black soldiers by authorizing two segregated regiments of black cavalry, the Ninth United States Cavalry and the Tenth United States Cavalry and the 24th, 25th, 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry Regiments. Orders were given to transfer the troops to the western war arena, where they would join the army's fight with the Indians. In 1869, one year after Cathay Williams' discharge, from the army, the black infantry regiments were consolidated into two units, the Twenty-fourth United States Infantry and the Twenty-fifth United States Infantry. The 38th U.S. Infantry became the Twenty-fourth United States Infantry. All of the black regiments were commanded by white officers at that time.

The fact that five hospital visits failed to reveal that William Cathay was a woman raises questions about the quality of medical care, even by mid-l9th century standards, available to the soldiers of the U.S. Army, or at least to the African-American soldiers. Clearly, she never fully undressed during her hospital stays. Perhaps she objected to any potentially intrusive procedures out of fear of discovery. There is no record of the treatment given her at the hospitals. There is every indication that whatever treatments she received, they did not work.

Their job wasn’t easy. The "Buffalo Soldiers" were often confronted with racial prejudice from other members of the U.S. Army. Civilians in the areas where the soldiers were stationed occasionally reacted to them with violence. They were attacked in Rio Grande City, Texas in 1899, Brownsville, Texas in 1906, and Houston, Texas in 1917. There were recorded incidents. How many more were never heard of? In the Spanish-American Ward General John J. Pershing fought with the 10th Calvary from 1895 to 1897. He saw these brave men as good soldiers. But white cadets and officers at West Point began calling him Nigger Jack, it changed to Black Jack Pershing.  Some of you are familiar with that last term.

On September 6, 2005, Mark Matthews, who was the oldest living Buffalo Soldier, died at the age of 111. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. I met Trooper Harold S. Cole on April 21, 2012, in Columbia, S. C. at Freedom Fest acknowledging the Buffalo Soldiers and the Viet Nam Veterans. In 1944, the army disbanded the 2nd Cavalry Division, which included the 9th & 10th Cavalry Regiments in North Africa. It’s like Trooper Cole is one of the last Buffalo Soldiers.

A lasting legacy of the soldiers as park rangers is the Ranger Hat (popularly known as the Smokey Bear Hat). Although not officially adopted by the Army until 1911, the distinctive hat crease, called a Montana Peak, (or pinch) can be seen being worn by several of the Buffalo Soldiers in park photographs dating back to 1899. Soldiers serving in the Spanish American War began to crease the Stetson hat with a Montana "pinch" to better shed water from the torrential tropical rains. Many retained that distinctive "pinch" upon their return to the U.S. You can still see that look being worn among the military and law enforcement officers.

We must not forget the contribution that these brave men gave and suffered for this country.  That's right, men, not animals, but free men and former slaves who also gave their all.  They were abused, mistreated and humiliated but they were proud to be soldiers and fought their best that should be recognized throughout American History.

Hold On – James Fortune & FIYA!

We All Have Something Going On!

I was thinking that even though things might seem to be going well with me, I still have my share of problems.  No matter how well things might look on the outside, all kinds of stuff are happening on the inside.  We all think our problems are major until we see someone else problems are lot worse than our own.  Then we realize that our troubles aren’t really that bad.  But, I will admit that all of us are going through something.  It’s WHO do we look to that can bring us out of it that will make the difference.  Keep your faith, my brothers and sisters.  It’s being tested 24/7!

Kirk Franklin – Let It Go!

You Walked Lightly - Dec 18th, 2011

A beautiful, compassionate, love story by Patricia.  Awesome!  Much appreciated!!  Thank you!

You Walked Lightly Dec. 18th 2011.

You walked lightly into my life

Captivating and lovely to my mind,

At first, I never cared who you were

Now I don’t know who I am without you,

You kissed me

I felt my world change,

You held me

I heard my heart awaken,

You loved me

And my soul was born anew

You walked lightly into my life

Now my heart knows who you are

And with every breath

And every step

I take down lonely roads,

Your hand is my staff

Your voice is my guide

Your strength my shelter

You’re passion my awakening.

You walked lightly into my life,

And all my pain

You took as your own,

And all my fears

You cast into the sea,

All my doubt

Lost in your eyes,

You walked lightly into my life

And no matter if you choose to stay or go,

My life is forever changed,

Just because you loved me

For a moment in time.

And because I choose

To love you

For the rest of mine.

In Memory Of The Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39. Had he lived, Dr. King would have been 83 years old. On June 10, 1968, James Earl Ray, a fugitive from the Missouri State Penitentiary, was arrested in London at Heathrow Airport, extradited to the United States, and charged with the crime. On March 10, 1969, Ray entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to 99 years in the Tennessee state penitentiary.  Ray died in prison on April 23, 1998, at the age of 70.

What Would You Have Done?

Palm Sunday marked the beginning of Holy Week for a lot of Christian organizations.  The ritual represented Christ’s actual entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey and was greeted by a crowd with palm leaves laid before Him.   Mind you, this donkey was never ridden, similar to being a virgin, even the donkey symbolized peace.  The Messiah had arrived.  The Pharisees didn’t set it that way.  They didn’t like the way the people were treating Jesus like a king.  It didn’t matter how many miracles Jesus had performed.  It was a triumphant entry which also became a very passionate prelude to death.  By that Friday, people were crying before His crucifixion.  Be wary of praise, I always say, you never know what some folks are scheming.  But there is so much to think about during Holy Week!  What about the Last Supper?  It was the last meal that they all shared but it took the dullness out of the usual meal together.  What were the apostles thinking when Jesus was blessing His Body and Blood in the form of bread and wine?  Why did He wash the apostles’ feet?  He also predicted His betrayal by one of His followers.  What would we have done throughout all of this?  We would question Christ’s behavior or mental state?  Why was He speaking this way?  Would we question our own fate?  What ever was said and done was a solemn and sad night.  The mortal side of Jesus didn’t want to die a cruel and horrible death even though He knew He had to.  Jesus obeyed the Will of His Father.  How He must have prayed at Gethsemane, trusting that Peter, James, and John would stand vigilant.  Twice, He found them sleeping.  Were they sleeping because of exhaustion? From sorrow?  Does it matter?  Jesus had faced storms, mobs, temptations and demons, but they never got next to Him.  Gethsemane, the Garden of Agony, means an oil press, a place where the pressures of rocks are used to squeeze the oil out of olives. A stressful place and a night was full of stress!  Something very bad was going to happen.  Peter will deny Christ himself and Peter was Christ’s right hand!  There is so much to meditate on this week!  I haven’t discussed the trial, scourging, crowning of thorns, carrying the cross, and the actual crucifixion.  He was crucified as a common criminal with two thieves with His mother looking on.   What happened when Christ died on Mt. Calgary (Golgotha)?  What more did the thieves and Christ talk about?  There is so much to meditate on during Holy Week. Again, I ask you what would you do?  Imagine hearing these words that uttered, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”  Then finally death.  If an earthquake happened and destroyed the temple, what would you do?  Did the sky turn dark and the moon turn a blood red?  The Bible said some fearful things but I believe them to be true.  Man has lost his way since Eden.  Look around you now.  Our children are being executed; hatred, envy, and intolerance are running rampant.  Wars are being fought over pride and territory.  Immorality, corrupt politics, and inequitable social laws are separating us farther from God. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb who gave up his life for man.  It appears we haven’t learned a thing.  A side note: Easter was an exciting time for my mom.  She loved everything about it, the blooming flowers and dogwoods and the singing and praising.  She stayed in this world until the day after Easter before she left for her heavenly home.  Please meditate on good and positive things, Resurrection Sunday (Easter) is next week.