Buffalo Soldiers Work to Restore Black Soldiers’ Paved Cemetery | Lehigh Valley Regional News

More than a year ago, the local Buffalo Soldiers chapter made a sad discovery. A black soldiers’ grave had been paved over and turned into a basketball court in Easton. Since then, the group has been working to make sure those buried there receive the honor they deserve.

So on Friday night, the sound of music and motorcycles filled the air on Union Boulevard in Allentown.

“That’s what we call the meet and greet,” said John Pitts, commander of the Buffalo Soldiers’ Bethlehem post. “We meet with the bikers and explain exactly what we do and what the Buffalo Soldiers are.”

The Bethlehem Buffalo Soldiers are comprised of bikers, carrying on the legacy of the original Buffalo Soldiers.

“It was a fighting regiment,” said the chapter chaplain, whose motorcycle name is Eighty 8. “It was a regiment of black soldiers.”

When members of this local discovered that there were black soldiers buried under what had been turned into a basketball court in Easton, they made it their mission to make sure that mistake was corrected.

“We don’t leave a soldier behind,” Pitts said.

It was these soldiers who brought the motorcycle clubs together. Many of the bikers are veterans themselves. Pitts told 69 News, “We have bikers from all over.”

This event is a preparation for an even bigger event that will take place on Saturday. All bikers will ride from Union Boulevard to the grave site in Easton and pay tribute to the victims.

“It’s going to be a beautiful thing, they have surviving family members coming in and we’re looking forward to that,” Eighty 8 said.

A memorial will eventually be erected at the site, but for now, this weekend’s event is a start in restoring their resting place.

“It’s a great honor,” Eighty 8 said. “A long-awaited honor. I think they would be very proud, it’s a great honor to be recognized and for people to finally recognize you.”

Saturday’s ride begins at 10 a.m. at 555 Union Boulevard in Allentown and will end on Nesquehoning Street in Easton.