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Youth at Fort Powell
Candidates for Fort Powell Military Academy, Bumble Bee, Arizona Photo: Valerie Andrews/ABSRA

America's Buffalo Soldiers Re-enactors Association

The ABSRA commemorates the courage and patriotism of African-American soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and 24th and 25th Infantry regiments who served in the decades following the Civil War. They were nicknamed "buffalo soldiers" by Native Americans out of respect for their valor in battle. In addition to protecting the western frontier, they served in several other campaigns, from the Spanish-American War through World War II. Headquartered in Scottsdale, ABSRA was founded in 1990 by former Marine, Charles F. Long II, to preserve and promote the legacy of the soldiers, particularly as a message of courage under fire for disaffected youth. ABSRA members mentor at-risk youth in the Phoenix area in a non-nonsense military environment, providing programs for intellectual stimulation, challenge, and discipline.

Fort Powell, named in honor of General Colin Powell for his contributions in raising America's consciousness to the history of the Buffalo Soliders, is the home of the America's Buffalo Soldiers Re-enactors Association. It will house America's Buffalo Soldier Military Academy, a college preparatory boarding school, grades 7 - 12, which will open its doors in fall 2001. The student body will be comprised of 150 students, at least one student representing each state. Promoting a highly disciplined learning environment, Ft. Powell, staffed by 37 ABSRA members, will have classrooms, a computer lab and communications center, Buffalo Soldier Museum, an infirmary, chapel, mess hall, library, gymnasium, lap pool, track and obstacle course, general store, gift shop, and barn.

In other activities, the Buffalo soldiers re-enactors provide a color guard and an honor guard for various events, deliver lecturers on historic and educational topics, appear in feature films and documentaries, perform in parades and Wild West shows, participate in corporate trail rides and cook-outs, and serve on funeral details.

Project documentation comprises a proposal integrated with copies of color photos, three color 8 x 10 photographs, and a photo log.

Originally submitted by: Ed Pastor, Representative (2nd District).



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The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.

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