DIGGING FOR DIGNITY: Buffalo Soldiers Chaplain Dr. Coy Poitier to Keynote Digging for Dignity National Buffalo Soldiers Day BBQ & Frontier Festival on July 28th in Haltom City.
DIGGING FOR DIGNITY: Buffalo Soldiers Chaplain Dr. Coy Poitier to Keynote Digging for Dignity National Buffalo Soldiers Day BBQ & Frontier Festival on July 28th in Haltom City.
By Texas Buffalo Soldiers Association
HALTOM CITY, Texas — A barbecue lunch, frontier storytelling festival, living history presentations, and a celebration of Black military heritage will bring together city officials, law enforcement officers, parks employees, historians, veterans, community leaders, and Buffalo Soldiers supporters on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at People’s Memorial Legacy Park.
The National Buffalo Soldiers Day BBQ & Frontier Festival, scheduled for 12:00 noon at People’s Memorial Legacy Park, 2800 N. Beach Street, Haltom City, Texas 76111, is being organized by the Texas Buffalo Soldiers Association and New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas, in recognition of National Buffalo Soldiers Day, the 160th Anniversary of the Buffalo Soldiers, and America’s 250th Anniversary.
The event will also celebrate the continued growth of the Digging for Dignity Project, a historic preservation initiative dedicated to restoring, documenting, and honoring the lives and legacies of those buried at People’s Memorial Legacy Park.
Serving as the featured guest speaker will be Dr. Coy Poitier, Buffalo Soldiers Chaplain and Buffalo Soldiers Heritage & Outreach Program Coordinator for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
A dedicated servant leader, historian, chaplain, and United States Marine Corps veteran, Dr. Poitier has spent more than three decades preserving and sharing the history of the Buffalo Soldiers while connecting faith, leadership, history, conservation, and community service.
In addition to his work with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Dr. Poitier is a National Geographic Educator, Texas Master Naturalist, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Heritage Interpreter, and professional gardener—a unique combination of expertise that allows him to connect people with history, culture, conservation, and community. As a Level 7 Google Local Guide, his educational contributions have helped more than five million people discover historical, cultural, and outdoor destinations throughout Texas and beyond.
Throughout Texas, he has inspired audiences in churches, classrooms, state parks, museums, and civic gatherings with stories of perseverance, courage, patriotism, and service. His ability to blend military history, faith, environmental stewardship, public education, and leadership development has made him one of Texas’ most respected interpreters of Buffalo Soldiers history.
Dr. Poitier often reminds audiences that “understanding the past is the key to mastering the future.” His keynote presentation will focus on the enduring legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers and their continuing impact on Texas and American history.
People’s Memorial Legacy Park stands as one of the most significant African American historic cemeteries in North Texas. The cemetery contains more than 7,700 graves representing generations of pioneers, veterans, ministers, educators, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and families whose lives helped shape Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the State of Texas.
Among those buried there are more than 500 veterans and military descendants, making the cemetery one of the most important sites for preserving Black military history in Texas (https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/forgotten-black-cemetery-restored-honoring-more-than-500-buffalo-soldiers-tarrant-county-texas/287-a51ba10a-e803-42ff-9f89-e9388d5802c9).
The Digging for Dignity Project gained momentum through a series of community preservation events. During the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in January 2026, volunteers worked throughout the cemetery to document gravesites and improve conditions. The effort continued during a Juneteenth Find-A-Grave Event in June 2026, where descendants, historians, and volunteers came together to locate and honor forgotten graves while reconnecting families to their ancestral history (https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/juneteenth-weekend-haltom-city-cemetery-preservation-6-20-2026/).
One of the most significant discoveries associated with the project was the identification of the gravesite of Florence Marie Cole Rawls, a member of the historic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (Six Triple Eight) and recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal. The discovery helped bring statewide attention to the cemetery and accelerated restoration efforts now underway through the Digging for Dignity Project.
Festival organizers say the event will also serve as an opportunity to express appreciation to the Mayor, City Council, Parks & Recreation Department, and Police Department of Haltom City for their continued support of People’s Memorial Legacy Park and for officially proclaiming July 28, 2026, as Buffalo Soldiers Day in Haltom City, Texas.
As a token of appreciation, members of the Texas Buffalo Soldiers Association and community volunteers will provide a complimentary barbecue lunch prepared by Theron’s Delicious Briskets & Rib for city staff, elected officials, community partners, and invited guests.
The festival will also feature living historians portraying frontier-era soldiers, settlers, and pioneers, along with displays of authentic artifacts, military memorabilia, tools, equipment, and historical items that help tell the story of life on the American frontier and the remarkable contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers.
Pastor Kyev P. Tatum Sr., chaplain of the Texas Buffalo Soldiers Association, pastor of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church, and curator of the Digging for Dignity Project, said the event is designed to connect history, faith, education, preservation, and community appreciation.
“This festival is about remembering those who came before us while inspiring those who will come after us,” Tatum said. “We will celebrate the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers, honor those buried at People’s Memorial Legacy Park, thank the City of Haltom City for its support, and continue the important work of preserving the stories that have shaped our community, our state, and our nation.”
National Buffalo Soldiers Day BBQ & Frontier Festival
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Email or Zelle: kptatum1@gmail.com
“They Were Buried in Silence. We Will Raise Their Names in Resilience.”
DIGGING FOR DIGNITY
Restoring Our Ancestors’ Living Dignity While Preserving Their Living History and Teaching Their Living Legacy.
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