Buffalo Soldiers proposed monument at Arizona Capitol inching closer to reality

There’s one more step left for the proposed Buffalo Soldiers Arizona Territory Monument at Wesley Bolin Plaza to become a reality.

Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill April 13 to install the monument on the Capitol grounds. But the leaders of the Arizona Centennial Legacy Buffalo Soldiers of the Arizona Territory out of Mesa, which proposed the monument, have been down this road before and aren’t willing to celebrate yet.

A contract approving the monument’s construction must still be approved by the executive director of the Arizona Legislative Council. Once the signature is obtained, the organization can move forward with hiring a general contractor to conduct the work needed to install the monument.

Deputy Cmdr. Michelle London-Marable of the Arizona Centennial Legacy Buffalo Soldiers of the Arizona Territory said in 2024, after the governor signed a similar bill, the installation was stymied because of a move to try to include the names of other Buffalo Soldiers organizations from around the state that had not been involved with memorial’s designing or raising funding for its placement.

But she’s hopeful this will be the year thanks to the support the bill has received from Rep. Walter Blackman, R-Apache Junction.

The Senate passed House Bill 2062, the Buffalo Soldiers Arizona Territory Monument, in an April 6 vote of 29-0-1. It was passed by the house on Feb. 17 on a vote of 57-0-3.

“It is legislation that is far, far overdue for this military unit. The monument is paid for. All they need to do is put it in the ground,” Blackman said during the House’s Feb. 17 vote “I think it’s a tribute to their service to our state and what they’ve done for our state, and I appreciate all your support on this, and I am thankful for you voting for this bill.”

Efforts to install the monument at the state Capitol have been ongoing since 2017, when it was proposed by the Arizona Centennial Legacy Buffalo Soldiers of the Arizona Territory. The group raised funds needed for the monument, which has been ready for installation since 2022.

The Buffalo Soldiers Arizona Territory Monument stands 8 feet tall and spans 11 feet in width. It is made of granite and is double-sided. It will showcase six Buffalo Soldiers with their pictures and stories on the front. On the back, it will honor Arizona Centennial Legacy Buffalo Soldiers of the Arizona Territory Cmdr. Fred Marable and London-Marable, who worked on the bill and raised funds for its design, creation and installation.

The Buffalo Soldiers were formed in 1866 as the 9th and 10th Cavalry, and the 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions, mostly protecting the Arizona Territory. At one time, all Buffalo Soldier regiments were headquartered in Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista. The 92nd and 93rd Infantry Divisions, the only Black divisions in World War II, were also stationed in Fort Huachuca.

The Buffalo Soldiers served until 1951, when the 24th Infantry, last serving in the Korean War, was disbanded after the U.S. military was desegregated.

Monuments to the Buffalo Soldiers exist in Tucson and Sierra Vista, and there is an exhibit about them inside the state Capitol. In addition, Camp Naco along the Arizona-Mexico border, which housed some Buffalo Soldiers as the Mexican Revolution raged, is being restored.

Along with being a long overdue recognition of the Buffalo Soldiers and their deeds in the Arizona Territory, Marable believes the monument can show Arizona in a new light.

“To me, this monument going into place would mean a big feather in Arizona’s hat,” Marable said. “I think Arizona should accept it as that because that would ease a lot of racial tension here in Arizona. Plus, it will show the United States that Arizona is not what people make it out to be.”

Once the contract is signed, London-Marable said she hopes to schedule the unveiling of the monument no later than November.

“We will be in full gear,” London-Marable said. “The women will be in Victorian dresses, and the young boys will be in Buffalo Soldier uniforms.”

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.