Print
Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 20 August 2017 20 August 2017

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

The Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society hosted a party with informational exhibits and talks, including a banquet, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017. The event celebrated the 151st birthday party for Fort Bayard, which  was founded in 1866 on Aug. 21.

A little after 9:30 a.m., the American flag was raised on the open space across from the fort's former headquarters building.

Apache drummers played a military veterans song on what was once the military Parade Ground, but also was one of the major Apache sites in the region, according to Gil Aguilera.

The Drum was co-ed, with a woman, Monica, taking part. Joe Saenz, the lead drummer and singer, said some drums are co-ed, and he has seen some all all-women ones, too. 

At 11 .m., Dr. Doug Dinwiddie gave a talk on a young lieutenant who proposed the names of two Buffalo soldiers for the Medal of Honor, which they received.

Birthday cake and homemade ice cream treated those who attended. A tour was led by Bill Kupke,

That evening, a banquet with food prepared by Los Compas preceded Larry Francell ging a talk portraying and presenting “My Summer Vacation” from the Journal of Robert Grierson. Robert was the son of Colonel Grierson who was commander of Fort Davis, Texas, during the Victorio Campaign.