The Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club will hold a fundraiser in June for Central High School Museum.

The motorcycle group will attend the Ole Grand Setting Event Saturday, June 22, at the museum. The event will start at 10 a.m. and last until about 6 p.m. and is the museum’s celebration of heritage and culture. The gathering will include guest speakers, a DJ, vendors, children’s games and other activities. The public is invited, and food and drink will be available for purchase.

The Buffalo Soldiers will raise funds as part of a charity ride that will bring its members from far and wide, said Dearrion Snead, a member of the group.
The motorcycle group celebrates and shares the history with young people of the original Buffalo Soldiers, those black soldiers who made up the Ninth and 10th Calvary of the United States Army.

The bikers support local charities and community organizations.

Organizers of the Ole Grand Setting expect about 100 bikers at the event. The Buffalo Soldier’s donation will assist with museum projects. Donations will be $20 per bike, $5 per passenger and $10 for cars, noted a flyer for the event.
Staging locations for riders will be Steel Horse Harley Davidson in Richmond and Lynchburg Harley Davidson.

“We’re trying to make this a state ride,” he said. “We’re trying to get as many people involved as possible.”

Besides the appearance ride from Lynchburg to Charlotte Court House, they will also participate in a Sept. 7 event in Danielle, Snead said.

“The grand setting is uplifting our history,” Dr. Hezetine Foster with Central High Museum said.

Supporters boast that the museum is the only place in the county devoted exclusively to documentation of African- American life, history and cultural contributions. It is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors. All gifts are tax deductible. Exhibits are displayed in a manner that tells a story from the beginning when slaves arrived in America, through the

Civil Rights Movement and on to the election of President Barack Hussein

Obama.

Housed in the remodeled building once known as the bus shop and the agriculture building, the museum is open for visits from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the

first and third Saturdays of each month.

Among its holdings are athletic team and gym uniforms, classroom instruments

such as a microscope, and a water fountain.

Eventually, supporters would like to see a series of upgrades that would include glass to help keep photos from fading, speakers and video display equipment to enhance the tour experience, a humidity system to protect the items, and storage space allowing for displays to be rotated in and out.