Remembrance
Vancouver Barracks Military Association Military History Talk
Buffalo Soldiers at the Vancouver Barracks
In the late 1890s, and in World War II, African American soldiers, sometimes called Buffalo Soldiers served at the Vancouver Barracks.
Mr. Wilson Keller, who is working on his Boy Scout Eagle project will talk about an interpretive sign about the Buffalo Soldiers, he is helping design and have installed at the Vancouver Barracks.
Retired U.S. Army Non-Commission Officer Frazier Raymond, will speak about Cathay Williams, the only female Buffalo Soldiers. Cathay Williams joined the U.S. Army in 1866, posing as a man, named William Cathay. She and her unit were eventually assigned to New Mexico, where her health declined. Doctors discovered she was a woman, and discharged her in 1868. Her story appeared in newspapers in the 1870s, and in 1891, Cathay Williams applied for a disability pension based upon her military service. Unfortunately, it was denied, and she died shortly afterward.
Chapel services for CMAC member Richard Alvarez
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of one of our beloved CMAC members and Vietnam Veteran, Richard Alvarez.
Chapel Only Services will be held at Evergreen Memorial on Friday, January 4, 2019, starting at 12:30pm.
Richard was the VFW Honor Guard Commander and has been providing services including Taps for most of our events since the formation of CMAC in 2009. Richard volunteered his time not only for CMAC but to fallen veterans in our community and sharing about veterans with students at our local schools. Richard will be greatly missed and we were blessed to have him as part of our CMAC community.
A Celebration of Life is being planned at the 40et8 Boxcar. CMAC is working with the VFW and we will send out additional information as soon as we have more details.