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Celebration turns up new jewel in Collin County's historic crown
By Marthe Stinton, mstinton@acnpapers.com
As residents of McKinney, history buffs and veterans entered the gates of Ross Cemetery in McKinney for its Memorial Day celebration Monday, they thought they knew what to expect -- the traditional ceremonies, American flags and veterans telling tales of war. But when they left, they found themselves in awe of one little tombstone located near the back of the cemetery.
Flo Henry has been involved with Ross Cemetery for years. She is president of the Ross Cemetery Association and has been one of the cemetery's biggest allies when it comes to keeping up with the grounds and preventing a loss of Collin County history.
"I have been working on this cemetery for a long time," she said. "I have been asking for volunteers to help maintain the cemetery and have gotten the sheriff and the [Sheriff's Convicted Offender Re-Entry Effort] crew to come out and help."
"Buffalo Soldier" was a nickname given to African-American soldiers who began fighting for the United States as early as 1866, when an act of Congress adopted legislation to create six all-African-American army units. The units were identified as the 9th and 10th cavalry and the 38th, 39th, 40th and 41st infantry regiments. According to buffalosoldiermuseum.com, the four infantry regiments were later reorganized to form the 24th and 25th infantry regiments. These fighting men represented the first black professional soldiers in a peacetime army. The recruits came from varied backgrounds, including former slaves and veterans from service in the Civil War.
The nickname "Buffalo Soldiers" began with the Cheyenne warriors in 1867. The actual Cheyenne translation was "Wild Buffalo," a nickname given out of respect for the fierce fighting ability of the 10th Cavalry, according to the website. Over time, Buffalo Soldiers became a generic term for all African-American soldiers.
"There is a Buffalo Soldier grave in Ross Cemetery," Henry said. "I have been working out there for all these years and didn't even know. We had soldiers come out from Pecan Grove, and one of them pointed it out and explained how he knew that's what it was. He was in the 9th Cavalry, and he said that was the toughest cavalry."
But the identification of the soldier will remain a mystery.
"There is no date, no name, no nothing," Henry said.
"I am excited. I have been telling everybody I just can't believe it. If I had only known."
Henry said the discovery of the grave has given her even more inspiration to keep the cemetery afloat.
"Everyone has someone out here," she said. "Maybe they don't know about it or maybe they do, but if you have lived in this area a long time, you have somebody out here."
There are 789 graves in the 9-acre cemetery on Old Mill Road, where illegal dumping and vandalism run rampant. Henry said volunteers are needed to restore the cemetery to its natural beauty.
"I wake up at 12 a.m. worrying about the grass," she said. "I need extra help out there. So far we have been doing pretty good by getting help from the sheriff, but they are getting so busy now. We need people to give their time. Everyone that I have asked to participate on the Memorial Day event did not hesitate, but we need volunteers."
To find out more about the newly discovered grave, the cemetery or the list of veterans buried at Ross Cemetery, call Flo Henry at 214-726-2227.
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