Veterans Memorial Park honors Veterans who served during segregation
Hillsborough County, Fla. (July 28, 2026) - Veteran Community Services and Hillsborough County leaders invite the community to help dedicate the new Buffalo Soldiers Monument on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park & Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum, 3602 N. U.S. Highway 301 in Tampa, FL 33619.
A ceremony will be held at the outdoor amphitheater, followed by the official unveiling of the large bronze monument in the park.
Event Highlights:
- National Association of Buffalo Soldiers & Troopers Motorcycle Club, Tampa Chapter
- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard and Mounted Patrol
- Keynote speaker Retired Army Brigadier Gen. Remo Butler
- Light refreshments and fellowship following the monument unveiling
- Free parking and admission; the park and monuments remain open until 5 pm.
The Origin of the Buffalo Soldiers
In 1866, Congress enacted legislation for the service of all-Black segregated units in the U.S. Army. Native American tribes named the troops "Buffalo Soldiers" after the courageous creatures of the Plains. These battalions guarded mail, managed national parks, and built infrastructure after the Civil War.
They also served in military actions and provided border security.
In 1898, Buffalo Soldiers camped on the fringes of Tampa Heights during deployment to Cuba in the Spanish-American War. The last Buffalo Soldier units disbanded in the 1950s under President Harry Truman, and in 1992, President George Bush proclaimed the first National Buffalo Soldiers Day to honor the outstanding service of all-Black Army regiments.
For more information about the event or Veterans Memorial Park & Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum, call Hillsborough County Veteran Community Services at (813) 635-8316 or visit HCFL.gov/Veterans.
- Who: Veterans, County staff, and elected officials
- What: Buffalo Soldiers Monument unveiling
- When: 10 a.m. Saturday, August 29, 2026
- Where: Veterans Memorial Park, 3602 N. U.S. Highway 301, Tampa, FL 33619