Sanders Matthews (above), and
grandson Coleman Matthews
WEST POINT – It was a bittersweet day for the 55th annual memorial ceremony to honor the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments – the Buffalo Soldiers, who served in the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, both World Wars and the Korean Conflict. The last Buffalo Soldier at West Point, Sgt. (ret.) Sanders “Matty” Matthews, passed away on August 26 at 95 years of age.
Matthews’ nephew Coleman Matthews, a Vietnam War veteran, represented
the family at the annual ceremony on Sunday.
‘I have been coming here for the last 20 years and I always felt honored to come here to honor him and being a direct descendant of a Buffalo Soldier was amazing to me. I just couldn’t get over it,” Coleman said. “It was a big thrill for our whole family.”
The late Sgt. Matthews began his service in World War II and after his retirement, became the first African-American police officer in the Village of Highland Falls.
The African-American regiments were dubbed the Buffalo Soldiers because of their fearlessness, much like the buffalo that roamed the range during the Indian Wars.
Rendering of monument planned for Buffalo Field at West Point
