In a solemn act of historical rectification, the U.S. Army honored 17 Black soldiers executed following the 1917 Houston Riot by installing new headstones at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. The long-overdue ceremony recognized the service and rank of the soldiers, who were members of the all-Black 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, also known as Buffalo Soldiers. The San Antonio Report provided insights into the ceremony and the historical context of these grave injustices.
Despite the century-old wrong, the Army officially exonerated the soldiers last year, when Army Secretary Christine Wormuth announced clemency for the 19 men hanged at Fort Sam Houston. The decision not only cleared their names but also sought to correct a narrative that dishonored their service. The new headstones were described to fully honor their service, and came as a symbolic gesture to amend the past atrocities. According to the Express News, the new markers include the soldiers' rank, the unit they served with, and war zones they deployed to, unlike the old ones that crudely marked only the dates of the soldiers' births and deaths.
During the dedication ceremony, officials underscored the significance of restoring dignity to these men. Tanya Bradsher, deputy secretary of Veterans Affairs, was quoted saying, “Today, the focus is not on that history. It is not on the marker, the trials or the army decision. Rather, the focus is on restoring dignity, honor and respect,” as obtained by the San Antonio Report. The occasion was marked by military traditions such as rifle volleys and the playing of “Taps,” honoring these soldiers posthumously with the dignity they were unjustly denied in life.
Matthew Quinn, Veterans Affairs undersecretary of memorial affairs, asserted, "Today, we right the wrongs of the past and honor the service of these soldiers who served our country with honor.” This was reiterated with the physical replacement of headstones that had merely hinted at dishonor to ones that celebrated their service and sacrifice. The Express News reported on the articulated sentiments of gratitude and the recognition of this action as a significant stride towards justice.
The ceremony was not only a federal acknowledgment but also represented a moment of personal fulfillment for the descendants of the soldiers who long fought to clear their ancestors’ names. Angela Holder, a history professor and relative of executed soldier Cpl. Jesse Moore, reflected on her family's journey, sharing with the San Antonio Report, “That’s when I made a promise to them: I’m going to fix this.” Holding photos of her great-aunt and great uncle by their newly marked grave, Holder felt that the dedication served not only as a correction of historical records but as an answer to her family's long-held prayers.
