LAKELAND — A historical monument, dedicated to soldiers in the 9^th and 10^th Calvary of the U.S. Army, made its way to Lakeland Tuesday.

The statue traveled from Pennsylvania to Florida and Buffalo Soldier Motorcycle clubs from across the nation escorted the monument to its final destination.

“We got all of the chapters together down the east coast; Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and then into Florida -- and a combination ended up right here today,” said Samuel Bernard, of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club of Tampa.

Several organizations came together to make the ceremony possible. The event’s coordinator released a press release that said, in part:

“Three years of work across multiple states with high school students, professional artists, veterans, history buffs, and community organizers have all come together to create the Friends of Freedom Memorial."

The memorial honors soldiers from the 9th and 10th Cavalries of the U.S. Army - including the Buffalo Soldiers who were stationed in Lakeland during the Spanish American War prior to being deployed to Cuba.

From Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Lakeland, members of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club from chapters along the Eastern Seaboard escorted the transport team the entire way.

Haffey and Platform Art have as part of their mission to create art in public spaces as well as to involve students in the creative process. Artisan Becky Ault of Art Design and Art Research Enterprises in Lancaster, Pa., was selected to lead the creative endeavor.

Ault and Haffey collaborated to create a program for art teachers at two local high schools Santa Fe Catholic High School in Lakeland and Lake Region High School in Eagle Lake, Fla. - to teach their students about the history of the Spanish American War, the Buffalo Soldiers, and the regiments stationed in Lakeland.

Chants from the Buffalo Soldiers motorcycle club could be heard from Veteran’s Memorial Park, in Lakeland -- as the monument was placed in its final destination.

"We’re here to support this monument that’s so important, honoring the Spanish American War and the Buffalo Soldiers 9^th and 10^th Calvary,” said Tony Moore, Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club member.

In 1948, President Harry Truman issued an executive order eliminating racial segregation in armed forces. However, long before that --- a group of Black men were fighting side by side with people who had just previously enslaved them.

“We all came together to make this happen,” said Bernard. “This monument will be the first of its kind east of the Mississippi, and what a wonderful opportunity to educate people on the contributions that our Black men and women made to the formation of this country.”

Richard Wilder, President of the Buffalo Soldiers organization in Lakeland, said the official dedication for the soldiers and the monument will be held on November 12 at Veterans Memorial Park in Lakeland.