Honor History by Replacing It: Can the Buffalo Soldiers and General Lee Coexist?
Location: “The Errand of Corporal Ross” Monument to the Buffalo Soldiers, Robert E. Lee Gate, Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, 31°47'42.6"N, 106°25'03.8"W
It seems as though any mention of General Robert E. Lee today is met with heated debate, controversy, and division. Should we erase images and references to elements of American history? Does erasing their existence bridge the gaps or cause them to grow wider?
Today we highlight a local historical monument that was recently drawn into the debate. The monument is the “The Errand of Corporal Ross” Buffalo Soldier Memorial that holds a place of honor on Fort Bliss, Texas. The monument stands as a symbol of the Buffalo Soldiers who proudly served our country beginning in the Civil War, through the Indian Wars and into the 20th century. The Buffalo Soldiers were a segregated unit which produced 23 Medal of Honor recipients and were instrumental in the westward expansion of our nation. Major General Sean MacFarland said that “these American fighting men valiantly and selflessly served our great nation. No other group of American Soldiers sacrificed so much and yet received so little respect in return.”[1] The Buffalo Soldiers are excellent examples of the pride and dedication that runs throughout the ranks of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines today.
In order to provide more emphasis to the role the Buffalo Soldiers played in the history of Fort Bliss and to help draw visitors to the memorial by making it easier to find, the road on which it is located was renamed from Robert E. Lee Blvd. to Buffalo Soldier Blvd. The Buffalo Soldier monument now stands on Buffalo Soldier road. The dedication of the renaming of the street and the renewed emphasis on the monument took place in February, during Black History month. Controversy followed.
The Buffalo Soldiers have a prominent place in Fort Bliss and regional history. Robert E. Lee, while a storied military commander, has no historical ties to the base. The desire simply was to better highlight the monument and its historical significance. This link takes you to an article on the name change with opposing viewpoints being discussed in an open, honest, and civil manner. This civility is something we are severely lacking today and it is my hope that we can return to honest, healthy debate to try and heal the divide. It acknowledges the place of the Buffalo Soldiers and honors their legacy, while discussing the debate that surrounds the name change:
http://archive.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_25176180/fort-bliss-rename-robert-e-lee-road-honor/
Let’s honor our history by sparking open and honest dialogue about the issues that divide us. Instead of squashing debates, let’s encourage more sincere discourse. Only then can we hope to stem the tide of division that plagues our nation today. Veterans continue to fight for our freedoms, including freedom of speech. We should honor their sacrifices, big and small, by ensuring that those freedoms are not lost.
Monumental USA is dedicated to highlighting local monuments and the human stories that lay at their foundation. The desire is to reinvigorate civic pride and sense of ownership through interesting monuments to events and personalities great and small across the nation, with a special focus on local and perhaps obscure or forgotten memorials.
