Visit national cemeteries to enjoy the
pristine grounds or to visit a loved
one as they walk by . They often don't
realize how much history there is
behind the headstones that's around
them . At Fort Sam Houston National
Cemetery in San Antonio , Texas . There
are 17 headstones in a row . They are
unusual markers in what they don't show .
While neighboring headstones list the
service member's name , dates of birth
and death , brand of service , military
rank and significant military awards .
17 reflect only their names and dates
of death with no rank or military
affiliation indicated . There is a
story behind these 17 headstones . It
is a story of racial tensions that
boiled over into one of the most
notorious mutinies in American military
history . And it is a story of how this
incident forever changed military
justice . The third battalion 24th
infantry regiment was a unit of Buffalo
soldiers , black enlisted men commanded
by white officers . After the US joined
World War One , the army expanded
dramatically in size to accommodate the
training of new draftees camps were
constructed across the southern tier of
the United States throughout the summer
and fall of 1917 in July the soldiers
of the third battalion were sent to
guard the construction of one such camp
camp Logan in Houston , Texas , Texas
was firmly part of the Jim Crow South
in 1917 . And the white residents of
Houston did not welcome the sight of
black men in army uniforms , scary
weapons for their part . The soldiers
of the third battalion bristled at the
racist taunts and insults hurled at
them by the local populace . Verbal
abuse was oftentimes augmented by
physical harassment by the members of
Houston's notoriously racist police
force . Events came to a head on the
night of August 23rd , 1917 . Earlier
that afternoon , a respected non
commissioned officer from the third
battalion was beaten , shot at and
detained by Houston police while
outside Camp Logan . Rumors spread
among the troops like wildfire though
the soldier was released by the police ,
some of his comrades believed he had
been killed . Others believed a white
mob was descending upon camp Logan to
attack the troops . 100 or more of the
soldiers took up arms and marched upon
the town . There was indiscriminate
shooting as well as deliberate
targeting of civilians and military
alike amid the chaos . 19 persons died
15 white and four black . Although army
officials later concluded that
consistent racist hostility attributed
to the violence , the soldiers
ultimately left camp against direct
orders and were charged with mutiny and
various other crimes for the articles
of war . The third battalion was
disarmed and shipped to San Antonio
where 118 of them were court martialed
at Fort Sam Houston over the course of
three trials in late 1917 and early
1918 , it was the largest mass court
marshal in army history . All three
were flawed by serious irregularities
which included a rush schedule and only
a single officer appointed to defend
all the defendants and that officer was
not an attorney . Only seven were
acquitted . 91 soldiers were sentenced
to prison and 19 executed . Many
criticized the first set of executions
as the equivalent of a federal lynching .
And the public outcry led to the army
implementing an immediate a change to
the articles of war . In January 1918 ,
the change prohibited future executions
without war department review and all
military death sentences in the
continental United States would require
presidential review of the 16 soldiers
sentenced to death . In the 2nd and 3rd
courts martial , President Wilson
approved the execution of six and
commuted the sentences of 10 , all
19 were hanged and then buried at
Salado Creek in unmarked graves near
Fort Sam Houston where they've been
tried and imprisoned . Two of those
executed had their bodies claimed by
their families . The remainder were
ultimately reburied in the Fort's Post
Cemetery in 1937 . A result of their
trial and sentencing . The soldiers'
headstones reflect only their names and
dates of death . The National Cemetery
Administration is committed to telling
the story of the Houston mutineers and
the 17 soldiers who rest there in a
single row with only their names and
dates of death to mark them .
Jack . Jack , can you hear me on this
way ?
People visit national cemeteries to
enjoy the pristine grounds or to visit
a loved one as they walk by . They
often don't realize how much history
there is behind the headstones that's
around them at Fort Sam Houston
National Cemetery in San Antonio ,
Texas . There are 17 headstones in a
row . They are unusual markers in what
they don't show . While neighboring
headstones list the service member's
name , dates of birth and death .
Branch of service . Military rank and
significant military awards . 17
reflect only their names and dates of
death with no rank or military
affiliation indicated . There's a story
behind these 17 headstones . It is a
story of racial tensions that boiled
over into one of the most notorious
mutinies in American military history .
And it is a story of how this incident
forever changed military justice . The
third battalion , 24th infantry
regiment was a unit of Buffalo soldiers ,
black enlisted men commanded by white
officers after the US joined World War
One , the army expanded dramatically in
size to accommodate the training of new
draftees . Camps were constructed
across the southern tier of the United
States throughout the summer and fall
of 1917 . In July , the soldiers of the
third Batt were sent to guard the
construction of one such camp camp
Logan in Houston , Texas , Texas was
firmly part of the Jim Crow South in
1917 . And the white residents of
Houston did not welcome the sight of
black men in army uniforms carry
weapons for their part . The soldiers
of the third battalion bristled at the
racist taunts and insults hurled at
them by the local populace . Verbal
abuse was oftentimes augmented by
physical harassment by the members of
Houston's notoriously racist police
force . Events came to a head on the
night of August 23rd , 1917 . Earlier
that afternoon , a respected non
commissioned officer from the third
battalion was beaten , shot at and
detained by Houston police while
outside Camp Logan . Rumors spread
among the troops like wildfire though
the soldier was released by the police ,
some of his comrades believed he had
been killed . Others believed a white
mob was descending upon Camp Logan to
attack the troops . 100 or more of the
soldiers took up arms and marched upon
the town . There was indiscriminate
shooting as well as deliberate
targeting of civilians and military
alike amid the chaos . 19 persons died
15 white and four black . Although army
officials later concluded that
consistent racist hostility attributed
to the violence . The soldiers
ultimately left camp against direct
orders and were charged with mutiny and
various other crimes for the articles
of war . The third battalion was
disarmed and shipped to San Antonio
where 118 of them were court martialed
at Fort Sam Houston over the course of
three trials in late 1917 and early
1918 , it was the largest mass court
marshal in army history . All three
trials were flawed by series
irregularities which included a rush
schedule and only a single officer
pointed to defend all the defendants
and that officer was not an attorney ,
only seven were acquitted . 91 soldiers
were sentenced to prison and 19
executed . Many criticized the first
set of executions as the equivalent of
a federal lynching and the public
outcry led to the army implementing an
be a change to the articles of war . In
January 1918 , the change prohibited
future executions without war
department review and all military
death sentences in the continental
United States would require
presidential review of the 16 soldiers
sentenced to death . In the 2nd and 3rd
courts martial , President Wilson
approved the execution of six and
commuted the sentences of 10 , all
19 were hanged and then buried at
Salado Creek in unmarked graves near
Fort Sam Houston where they've been
tried and imprisoned . Two of those
executed had their bodies claimed by
their families . The remainder were
ultimately reburied in the Fort's Post
Cemetery in 1937 a result of their
trial and sentencing . The soldiers
headstones reflect only their names and
dates of death . The National Cemetery
Administration is committed to telling
the story of the Houston mutineers and
the 17 soldiers who rest there in a
single row with only their names and
dates of death to mark them .
Would you please rise for the arrival
of the official party ?
Yeah ,
thank you . You may not take your seats .
Good afternoon . My name is Jerry
Leffler and I'm the director of the
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery . It
is my pleasure to introduce our special
guests here with us today . The Deputy
Secretary of the Department for
Veterans Affairs , the Honorable Tanya
Bratcher . Please
excuse me . please hold your applause
until the end after birth .
The under Secretary for Memorial
Affairs , the honorable Matt Quinn ,
principal , Deputy assistant Secretary
of the Army for Manpower and Reserve
Affairs , MS Yvette Bursa
and Mr Jason Holt Esquire , nephew of
private first class Thomas C Hawkins of
the 24th infantry regiment .
Thank you . Additionally , you have
other honored guests in the audience
today . Um We request that you please
hold your applause until the end . Mr
Charles Anderson , the relative of
Sergeant William C Nesbitt , MS
Angela , holder , relative of corporal ,
Jessie Moore , Adriana Rosa
Garcia , Councilwoman San Antonio
District four Keith Wilson ,
executive director , Bear County
Department of Military and Veteran
Services from the Department of
Veterans Affairs . We have present the
honorable Donald Remy , former Deputy
Secretary of the Department for
Veterans Affairs , Doctor Julianne
Flynn , executive Director of the South
Texas Veterans Health Care Center ,
Aaron Lowe , Director of the San
Antonio Northwest Veterans Center ,
Glenn Powers , Principal Deputy under
Secretary for field programs National
Cemetery Administration , Lisa Pasan
executive Director of Cemetery
Operations , National Cemetery
Administration , Artist Parker ,
executive director of field programs ,
NC A Mr Nathan Manley ,
acting Chief Diversity Officer in the
office of the Secretary of the
Department for Veterans Affairs . We
also have Joseph Bray , civilian aide
to the Secretary of the Army .
Following those honored guests , I
would like to introduce several Texans
without whom this moment would not be
possible . These are people who have
been engaged for years . In this case ,
we have Pastor Kev Tatum , New Mount
Rose , missionary Baptist church and
president of the Ministers Justice
Coalition of Texas Bryant Pearson ,
founder and head of the young men's
service organization , the Bowtie Boys ,
Priscilla Graham , soldier , author and
local historian , Margaret Wilson , and
agli chairwoman Port San Antonio Board
of Directors and last but certainly not
least the Buffalo soldiers from the
Associations of Bear County , East and
West Texas . Thank you for being here
today .
Our national anthem will be played by
Fort Sam Zone 3 , 23rd army band during
the playing of the national anthem .
Military personnel and veterans may
render a hand salute . All others .
Please place your hands over your heart .
Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for
the national anthem and remain standing
for the invocation .
Chaplain James Hall , command chaplain ,
us Army North will now deliver the
invocation .
I invite you to pray with me dear
Lord . We invoke your presence today
here at this place as we honor the
third battalion , 24th infantry
regiment , Buffalo soldiers , we ask
for your forgiveness . As we realize
what a man can do to another man . We
ask for forgiveness to our nation and
to our army . We're thankful
for a nation that can change , they can
adjust and make amends .
We're thankful for an army that can
accept wrongdoing and we're blessed ,
we're blessed here today that we belong
to a nation that stands for justice and
freedom , an army that
stands on the shoulders of those who go
before us to fight for liberty , truth
and justice , wherever it's needed .
We thank you for being here with us
today in your name , we pray . Amen .
Thank you , chaplain , ladies and
gentlemen , you may take your seats .
It is now my honor to introduce the
honorable Matthew T Quinn to introduce
our keynote speaker , Mr Quinn was
nominated by President Biden and
confirmed by the Senate on June 17th ,
2021 to serve as the seventh under
Secretary for Memorial Affairs . He
leads 155 Veteran Affairs national
cemeteries and 122 Veterans
Affairs grant funded state and tribal
veterans cemeteries in providing a
dignified burial in national shrines
for veterans and eligible family
members . Mr Quinn is a retired major
general who served nearly 37 years in
the army and the army National Guard ,
culminating in his selection as the
27th Adjutant General for the State of
Montana . He is a combat veteran of
operation Desert Storm and Iraqi
Freedom . Ladies and gentlemen , please
welcome undersecretary's Matt Quinn .
Thanks Jerry and , and welcome
everybody . It uh certainly is an honor
to host this event at Fort Sam Houston
National Cemetery . And what a great
crowd we have here today . I know I'm
supposed to introduce uh the deputy
secretary , but I'm gonna take a point
of privilege and just have a couple of
remarks about what this occasion means
to me . Listen , as a veteran of the US
Army and a soldier for life , I was
especially honored to be present in
November of 2023 when army Secretary
Warmuth set aside the convictions of
the 110 black soldiers of the third
battalion , 24th infantry regiment .
The soldiers known as Buffalo soldiers
served our nation at a time when due to
racial prejudices , their service was
neither appreciated nor respected
today , va will forever honor their
service . This is a proud day for this
soldier , a veteran who I would tell
you would be proud to serve with the
soldiers of the third battalion , 24th
infantry regiment who it is now my
honor and privilege to introduce , not
only , uh , my boss , the deputy
secretary , but also a great friend . I
will tell you , uh , she interviewed me
for , uh , this position . I remember
the desk I was sitting in when she said ,
uh , do you want this job and , and
tell me why you want this job ? And Uh
here we are today . The honorable
Tanya Bradsher is V A's first woman
deputy secretary , the first woman of
color to serve in the position and the
highest ranking woman in V A's more
than 90 year history .
Now , some will say what took the VA so
long and I would just tell you
if it had to be for this position .
I don't think there is any better
person then MS Tanya Bradsher to
be the first woman Deputy Secretary for
the VA the first woman of color . And
frankly , she is an outstanding
advocate for veterans and an
outstanding advocate for those
employees . 450,000 employees of the
VA , 1/4 generation veteran , MS
Bradsher , a combat veteran of the Iraq
war , served in the United States Army
for 20 years and retired as Lieutenant
colonel . Since retiring . She served
as the VA S chief of Staff and in
senior positions within the Department
of Homeland Security and on the White
House National Security Council , MS
Bradshaw believes deeply in honoring
our nation's sacred obligation to serve
veterans , their families , caregivers
and survivors as well as they have
served all of us . So please help me in
welcoming V A's 10th Deputy Secretary ,
my friend , MS Tanya Ser
Matt . Thank you so much . Um
This is amazing and I just gonna
apologize upfront because this is truly
an honor and an unbelievable privilege
to be with you today . Um I'm 1/4
generation army soldier . I'm the first
one who wasn't drafted . My great
grandfather , my grandfather and my dad
were all drafted . And um I am just
incredibly proud to be here today . And
so Matt , thank you so much for the
kind introduction and for your
outstanding leadership of NC A . We are
so privileged to have you on our team
and I'm grateful to be here with all of
you . Let me first begin by thanking
cemetery director , Jerry Lo for
hosting us in this quiet and ordered
beauty of this cemetery . It is an
extraordinary place of honor for those
who have served in our armed forces . I
also wanna thank Yvette Bruh Boucicault .
Did I get that right ? Boucicault ,
principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Army of Manpower and Reserve Affairs
for joining us today and for your
service in uniform in the Air Force and
to our nation . Let me recognize my
friend , colleague , mentor , the
ninth Deputy Secretary of the VA in
whose footsteps , I am so incredibly
honored to follow Donald Remy . It is
an honor and a privilege to have you
here with us today . You started this
journey and I am so grateful that you
were here to see it concluded when NC A
placed a national marker to remember
these men and women and these men in
their stories . And when VA worked with
the army to understand the process of
vacating those charges . So it is so
wonderful to have you here today .
Thank you . And finally let me
recognize the families of the 24th
Infantry Regiment , Attorney Jason Holt ,
Professor Angela Holder , Mr Charles
Anderson , who are here with us today
and whose loved ones have rested here
in this sacred place for over a century ?
Thank you for honoring us with your
presence . I am humbled to stand here
as we memorialize 17 soldiers whose
service stories and legacies are marred
by racial injustice 100 and six years
ago at this very base and on these very
grounds , 19 black soldiers from Third
Battalion , 24th infantry regiment were
hanged for their involvement in the
Houston riots of 1917 and two years
ago . To the very day , we held a
ceremony to unveil a marker that
recognized that painful history , the
history of the riots and the lies lost
as a result of it . The history of the
injustice black soldiers endured and
the unfair outcomes of three speedy
trials and the history of a long
awaited decision based on the
impartiality and injustice of those
convictions . But 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 to those
17 soldiers . And by extension
to the two soldiers who were executed
and are buried elsewhere . And the 91
soldiers sentenced to prison in those
same trials simply put today we state
unequivocally that equal justice
belongs to all soldiers
today . And every day , this
day in this , in some small way
reflects the progress we have made as a
nation since these men were first
interred here over a century ago .
Progress that makes clear that all
institutions must live up to the ideals
and promise of our nation's
constitution . President Biden has said
that our country's most sacred
obligation is to prepare and equip the
troops we send into harm's way and then
to care for them and their families
when they come home . It's the promise
that our country makes to everyone who
signs up in the military . If you fight
for us , we'll fight for you . If you
serve us , we'll serve you . If you
care for us , then we'll care for you .
The thing is the whole country makes
that promise . But at va we're fighting
to fulfill that obligation and keep
that promise in so many ways . This
ceremony is one of the ways we're
keeping that promise . We are all here
today because we believe in that
promise . These headstones are more
than just physical markers . They are a
symbol of that promise and progress .
These headstones uphold the promise
enshrined in the constitution that in
the eyes of the law , all Americans
have equal rights and equal worth .
They represent the struggle and fight
to keep stories of these men alive .
And these headstones that now look like
every other honorable veteran buried
here represent the approval of a
final resting place for these 17
soldiers where they too will be
recognized and forever called veterans .
These headstones will show their rank ,
signifying their dedication ,
leadership and commitment to duty .
They will show their state of origin ,
reminding us those who sign to protect
our nation come from all places . They
will show their regiment , connecting
them to their comrades and the shared
experiences the unit had in
safeguarding our nation . These
beautiful gestures that we provide to
every family of veterans who are buried
in our cemeteries will now be received
by the families of these soldiers from
the 24th infantry regiment . This is
the final step in that long walk to get
these soldiers the recognition they so
richly deserve . Now , these headstones
will not erase history or right the
wrongs of the past , but they will
ensure that future generations can
understand that history and remember
their names and so on this occasion ,
let all who gather here today pledge to
remember their legacies . Not only with
our words , let's remember their names
as we continue to work towards a more ,
just more equal and more perfect union
for which they gave their lives . May
God bless the memory of these 17
soldiers , their families and may he
continue to bless our veterans , their
families , caregivers and survivors ?
Thank you .
Thank you , Deputy Secretary Bradshaw
for those remarks . It is now my honor
to introduce MS Yvette K Bursa ,
principal Deputy assistant Secretary of
the Army . For Manpower and Reserve
Affairs . She is the primary advisor to
the Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Manpower and Reserve Affairs on all
matters related to the army people
strategy . She served as the acting
assistant Secretary from January to
December of 2022 . Her
distinguished career includes 10 years
of service as an officer in the United
States Air Force , private law practice ,
senior and executive positions with the
Army General Counsel , the office of
the undersecretary's of
the Department of Defense . She has
also held executive positions in the
private sector with companies such as
Facebook and Air BNB . Please welcome
principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Persica .
Good afternoon , distinguished guests
and family members . And thank you , Mr
Loeffler for the introduction . Thank
you to Fort Sam Houston National
Cemetery and the Department of Veterans
Affairs of Veterans Affairs and
Memorial services for hosting today's
ceremony . Secretary Brad , Secretary
Quinn . It was a pleasure to team up
with you and your team on this
meaningful work and the army . Um I
really appreciate your partnership . Um
I'm here representing uh Secretary of
the Arm of Warmth and under secretary
Camarillo , who unfortunately couldn't
be here today . Um But it is really a
privilege to be , to be back in Texas .
I wanna extend my deepest gratitude to
everyone who made it here today . Um Mr
Anderson , Professor Holder , Mr Holt ,
um M Heidman . Uh It's wonderful to see
you again . Thank you for your tireless
work . As well as the perseverance of
dozens of advocates , scholars and
allies and thanks to you , the memory
of the soldiers of the third Battalion ,
24th Infantry Regiment remains alive
and will be permanently memorialized
today . We would not be standing here
without you and your tireless advocacy .
II , I am finding it challenging to
follow the heartfelt speeches um
from my uh
colleagues on the da um But I do wanna
express that this is an extremely
important event for me personally . Um
I was an Air Force Jack and I'm a
student of history . But the first time
I heard about the soldiers of the 324
was in this role because our office was
processing the action and I don't want
that to be the case for future
generations of soldiers and service
members . I was last in Texas over
Veterans Day for the ceremony .
Secretary Bradshaw mentioned that
announced Secretary Warman's decision
to set aside the court martial
convictions and it was not lost on me
at that time that the men of the 324
were set to get their full recognition
as veterans . And it was incredibly
meaningful to me . And I thought it was
a poignant time to hold that ceremony
and it was on purpose and it's not lost
to me today that this is Black History
Month . The soldiers of the 324 are
gonna take their rightful place in
history along African alongside African
Americans who have served this country
honorably and deserve our respect .
And I also am reflecting , I'm
departing from my prepared remarks
which is gonna stress my staff out .
But I think it's important . Um I'm
reflecting on what the chaplain said
about forgiveness , about the army ,
doing the right thing and it took us a
while to get here and we
do ask for forgiveness for the
injustice that was perpetrated on these
soldiers and we're doing everything we
can to make this right . So I will
reiterate the privilege that it is for
me to be here .
The army is a learning institution and
we are learning um as we go
and that is why um I'm very
appreciative uh to be here representing
what we have done in addition to the
updated headstones that will unveil
later , that will display the soldiers
rank and unit in their home state ,
like other veterans , the descent of
the 324 will also receive a
certification of military service for
their loved ones . The certificate
reflects the upgraded discharge and
restoration of rank for each soldier
and is filed in each individual
official record . The corrected records
are now open to the public and be and
can be ordered by anyone . In fact ,
records of any veteran who separated
from the military 62 years or more ago
can now be accessed by any member of
the public . In addition , the
descendants of 324 who who want to seek
further corrections or receive benefits ,
can request a copy of their relatives
record from the National Archives and
Records Administration while this can't
take away the generations of pain and
trauma that the soldiers of the 324 and
their loved ones endured . We hope
these actions will serve as one more
step in a long but worthwhile journey
down the path of restorative justice
that took a long time .
These steps are historical but they are
the beginning . The memory of the 324
lives in every one of us and will
inspire future servicemen and women to
continue cultivating the army and our
sister services into a place where
everyone who wants to serve can serve .
We know that we cannot erase the past ,
but we can learn from it and we can use
it to guide our future . Thank you to
everyone for joining us today and I'm
looking forward to presenting the
certificates . Thank you .
Thank you , Miss Be Bursa . It is now
my distinct pleasure to introduce Mr
Jason Holt , esquire . Mr Holt is a
distinguished and well-respected lawyer
in the state of New Jersey . He is also
the nephew of private first class
Thomas C Hawkins of the 24th infantry
regiment interred here at Fort Sam
Houston National Cemetery . Mr Holt .
Thank you and good afternoon ,
distinguished officials , family ,
actually , everybody's family . So
you're here today , your family . So
I'm gonna do something that I don't
normally do . I'm gonna deviate from my
repair prepared remarks because my
computer shut down .
So I'll tell you one thing that I was
gonna say , I found a poem
from 1915 that was written
by Thomas Coleman Hawkins . And in that
poem , he talked about his mother
and kneeling down to pray . He talked
about being a soldier for the stars and
stripes . But in order to get into
heaven , he needed to be a soldier for
Christ . Now , as I look
over to my right and I see the
headstones that are covered . I think
about what that represents . The ones
that are in those graves are not just
bodies , they represent , hope ,
dreams , sacrifices , the things that
every family makes for their Children
that cannot be replaced . Where do you
go to get another mother's son ? As we
look back on 100 and seven years and
think about what we believe to be a
miscarriage of justice . We have to ask
ourselves , how did that happen ? We
have to think about the perpetuation of
the master slave relationship and the
13th amendment and how that happened 42
years later . And that's what brings us
here today , that miscarriage of
justice . How is it corrected ?
Will what we do today ? Balance the
scales . I'm not sure
about that and I've thought about it
over and over again . How do you
actually balance the scales ? Can you
balance the scales by what we're doing ?
I don't know , but it's an attempt it's
an attempt to make things right . The
miscarriage of justice is not just
against the soldiers . The miscarriage
of justice affects everyone that was
involved in that event . Whether you
were a civilian or whether you were a
colored soldier . Just try to survive .
How do we in 2024 ?
Understand what it was like to be a
soldier in 1917 , in Houston , Texas
and most of us
judging by what I see here in the
audience and my family , most of us
enjoy some of the simple pleasures in
life . But back then it wasn't
happening . How would you feel to be
dehumanized to the point that
not just being able to drink a cup of
water from the same water barrel as
everyone else , but not to not being
able to ride a street car , not being
able to eat where you wanted to eat and
for your commanding officers to tell
you we're gonna have a watermelon party
tonight . I'll
note that today is the
culmination of years and years of hard
work by many people . Um beginning in
1917 , all the way through now
through families , through institutions ,
through agencies and people in these
government agencies that had the
courage to make a decision .
And if you've never worked for
government or if you have worked
for government , I'll put it like that .
You know that it takes a lot of courage
to make a decision . It takes courage
to deviate from the norm . It's not
easy . And for these folks here today
to stand up and have to go back to
their respective places of
power and say that they did something
that involved racism to say that
they did something to set aside
convictions to say that they did
something that was controversial . It
is not an easy job . So I salute you
and I salute your courage .
And last two years ago , I think ,
right when we were here , uh Donald
Remy said a few things that stood out
in my mind . And if you go back and
look at the tape , I'm sure that you
will be inspired by those remarks . But
as I conclude , I will tell you one
thing in my heart ,
Angela Chuck in , in our hearts
as descendants . We look to you
for your support and your assistance .
We look to you to feel
whole , we look to you to help us
understand the tragedy that took
place . We look to you to help us
figure out why the ignominious hanging
lasso took the 1st 13
in secrecy , buried right
where they were executed , markers
of metal with a number coffins
with a coke bottle inside and a name
reinterred in 1937
without a proper headstone to get it
now and to receive the flag in our
hearts . When you say liberty and
justice , we do want it to be for all
because they pledged allegiance . They
did what they needed to do to be
soldiers to support our nation
and come home and not enjoy the same
freedoms that they were out there in
various military campaigns protecting
for each and every one of us . So I'll
say this if they can hear or they
can feel or if they can somehow tap
into whatever this energy is today . I
hope that they feel
that the scales of justice have been
balanced to the extent that they could
be . Thank you for listening .
Yeah , if you can hear me ,
thank you , Mister Hope for those
poignant remarks . We will now proceed
with the rendering of military honors
for these 17 soldiers of the third
battalion , 24th infantry regiment
having been executed following their
courts martial for a capital crime .
The 17 servicemen did not receive the
distinction of honors at the time of
their interments with their convictions
overturned by the United States Army .
We are proud to render them today . The
honor guard will fire three rifle
volleys , then taps will be played .
Their honors will be completed with the
presentation of the American flag to
the family members present . Please
stand and remain standing through the
playing of taps .
Honors it . Sh ready step
play . I have well ,
our time arts honors . Hope .
Hey man , Freddie
Reserve five .
He's over there bumping into everybody .
I I got about halfway up there .
Yeah ,
you may be seated .
Yeah .
Oh , on behalf of the President of the
United States , United States Army and
a grateful nation . Let accept this
flag as a symbol of our appreciation
for your loved ones . Honorable .
OK . On behalf of the president of the
United States , United States Army and
a great nation . This set , this flag
is a of our appreciation for the loved
ones , honorable . They
sir , on behalf of the president of the
United States , United States Army with
great information . This is set this
like the symbol of appreciation , good
loved ones out there . Thank you , sir .
I would not like to have uh invite
uh principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
of the Army of Bursa to present the
certificates of honorable discharge to
the family members .
First certificate will be presented to
Mr Charles Anderson on behalf of
Sergeant William C Nesbitt .
Second cer certificate will be
presented to Professor Angela Holder on
behalf of Corporal Jesse Moore .
The third certificate will be presented
to Mr Jason Holt on behalf of private
first class Thomas C Hawkins .
I would like to now invite Deputy
Secretary of the Department for
Veterans Affairs Brad to present the
presidential uh memorial certificate .
The first certificate will be presented
to Mr Charles Anderson on behalf of
Sergeant William C Nesbit .
Second certificate presented to MS
Angela Holder on behalf of Corporal
Jesse Moore .
And the final certificate will be
presented to Mr Jason Holt on behalf of
private first class um ,
excuse me , private first class Thomas
C Hawkins .
Thank you very much .
We will now proceed with the unveiling
and dedication of their 17 new
headstones . Please remain seated while
the official party and family members
make their way forward to the
headstones . Attendees will have the
opportunity to visit the graves
following the unveiling Buffalo
soldiers . Please take your positions
were executed more than 100 years ago
for capital crimes as such , the
inscription on their headstones
contained their names and dates of
death only with the reversal of their
convictions and the correction of an
historic wrong . They have now all
received honorable discharges and
warrant headstones reflecting that
characterization of service . Their new
markers were engraved maintaining the
19 thirties period style ,
the era of their original interment at
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in
1937 . These now
include their names home state military
rank , regimental unit and their date
of death . We will now unveil those
grave markers . Please stand .
Corporal Charles W Baltimore .
Private William Breckenridge ,
private Albert D . Wright .
Private James Divens ,
private James Robinson .
Mhm .
Private Thomas mcdonald ,
private Babe Collier
corporal James Wheatley ,
private Frank Johnson ,
Sergeant , William C Nesbitt ,
private Pat mcwhorter ,
private , first class Thomas C Hawkins
private Risley W Young ,
private Ira B Davis ,
private first class Carlos
Snodgrass ,
private , first class William D . Boone ,
corporal Jesse Moore
also executed but not interred . Here
were corporal Larman Brown and private
Joseph Smith .
Will you please join me as we pause in
a moment of silence to honor and
commemorate these 19 soldiers .
Thank you . Chaplain hall will now
provide us the benediction .
Please join me in prayer
or do we go from here ? Help us to
remember as we go to
be forgiving to seek
truth and justice , no matter where we
go to be thankful
for these , these soldiers and what
they've done for their nation and your
God . As we depart from
here , go with us and remind us every
day in your name . We pray , amen .
Thank you , chaplain , ladies and
gentlemen , this concludes our ceremony
this afternoon . You are welcome to
proceed forward to the headstones to
pay your respects behind each marker .
You will find a stake with a QR code .
That image on your cell phone will take
you to our veterans legacy memorial
page on these pages . You can leave a
fitting personal tribute for any or all
of these soldiers . If you have time ,
please feel free to tour Fort Sam
Houston National Cemetery designated a
national cemetery in 1937 . Our
cemetery serves the veteran community
of military city USA San Antonio
and the surrounding region . It is the
final resting place for more than
180,000 servicemen and
women spouses and family members who
have been entrusted to us for their
perpetual care and our nation's
remembrance . Thank you for attending
our recognition and dedication ceremony
this afternoon . Please travel home
safely .