Speak Up: Bill to establish Buffalo Soldiers monument on Capitol grounds moves forward

Another attempt to install a monument honoring Arizona’s Buffalo Soldiers at Wesley Bolin Plaza is making its way through the state Legislature, Janet Perez reports. House Bill 2062, the Buffalo Soldiers Arizona Territory Monument, cleared the House’s committees on government and rules in January, and is awaiting a full House vote. The bill was introduced by Rep. Walter Blackman, R-Apache Junction. 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 out of Mesa. The group has raised the funds needed for the monument, which has been ready for installation since 2022. Here’s what some readers had to say on NextDoor:

• “Please Honor all who served past and present. They put their lives on the line for us and our country.” — Joe Trujillo
• “As it should. They were so very instrumental to Arizona and this country.” — Kim Nazer
• “It’s about time!” — Barry Berger
• “Absolutely all for it! If they need help, count me in!” — Terry Erickson
• “I’m definitely not against it … but I would be more for it if I hadn’t seen half of our country’s previous statues toppled and removed. What will happen to these? If we are just gonna keep rewriting history, then what’s the point?” — Sara Heritage
• “Seems like a pretty cool part of Arizona’s history.” — David T.
• “They deserve recognition.” — Theresa Reigadas
• “It’s history and I’m still learning about the Buffalo Soldiers, but they symbolize Honor and Courage. I’m all for it.” — Qianna Gipson
• “The 9th U.S. Cavalry was instrumental in defeating the Apaches and opening up Arizona to be a safe place for settlers and business to develop Arizona.” — Dean Tseunis