Buffalo Soldiers Day – Jul. 28, 2026

Expected Buffalo Soldiers Day Deals

On Buffalo Soldiers Day, appreciation for military service members often extends to programs supporting veterans and their families. Organizations like the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture typically highlight educational initiatives and fundraising drives. Brands such as USAA and Veterans United Home Loans may promote year-round military discounts or special offers for service members. Local businesses, especially those near military bases, might offer special recognition or discounts. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 28 approaches.

History of Buffalo Soldiers Day

The buffalo soldiers, named by Native American Indians for reasons no one has ever quite determined, were some of the most valiant frontier military men in the wild, Wild West. The group of all-Black servicemen consisted of the 9th and 10th Cavalry-, as well as some infantry regiments, after the end of the Civil War. The military had begun to allow Black people to serve in a segregated military that was far from equal — when the 9th and 10th Cavalry mustered in 1866 and 1867, respectively, they were given low-quality and insufficient amounts of supplies.

Despite the lack of supplies, their assignment to the dangerous and distant American frontier, and the racism that reared its ugly head from their commanders as well as the citizens they were sworn to protect, the buffalo soldiers boasted the lowest desertion rates of any of the frontier groups at that time. In the beginning, the 9th Cavalry was sent to Texas and the 10th to Kansas. However, their tasks remained largely the same — to protect roads and settlers from Native American Indians. 

The buffalo soldiers are perhaps best known for their engagement in the Indian Wars, a series of battles and skirmishes that unfolded as White settlers encroached upon the land of Native American Indians. Over the course of more than a decade, the buffalo soldiers were able to largely subdue the Native American Indians, with the 10th Cavalry even joining the 9th in Texas in their campaigns. Of the US Cavalry soldiers that fought in these battles, the tiny but mighty buffalo soldiers made up no less than 20%!

After the Indian Wars, the buffalo soldiers faced new kinds of assignments. As national parks like Yosemite were established, they played a crucial role in warding off unfriendlies like poachers. Later, the cavalry and some infantry units were transferred to Florida in response to the Spanish-American War. They would go on to serve in places like the Philippines, the Pacific theater of World War II, and at the Mexican Border — and they faced racism every step of the way.

Racial segregation in the military was abolished in the late 1940s and, by the 1950s, the buffalo soldiers were all but a memory, having been redistributed to other units. The legacy they left, however, was unmistakable. When the dust cleared, 14 members of the buffalo soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor, and they had done undeniably important work in securing the safety of roads and settlers. They were valiant and brave men who we honor today as inspiring historical figures.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Buffalo Soldiers Day