On August 21, 1866, members of the 125th U.S. Colored Troops under Lt. J. Kerr camped in the valley between what is today named the Kneeling Nun and the Twin Sisters and adjacent to the Cameron Creek. Their orders were to begin the construction of the Fort Bayard Military Post. Its history as a military post and as a U.S. Army Hospital especially for the treatment of tuberculosis played a major part in the development of Silver City and the surrounding mining communities.

On August 18 and 19, the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society is hosting a Birthday Celebration to honor the 151 years that Fort Bayard has served the communities of southwestern New Mexico. On Friday evening at 7 the movie "The Buffalo Soldiers" will be shown at the New Deal Theater at Fort Bayard. Discussion will follow.

On Saturday, August 19, the celebration begins at 9:30 with a Flag Ceremony. A Walking Tour, museum experience, re-enactors presentations, children's old-fashioned games and toys, and the churning of homemade ice cream will follow.

At 11, Dr. Doug Dinwiddie will share the history of young Lt. Henry Wright who nominated both Corporal Clinton Greaves and Sgt. Thomas Boyne, both of the 9th Calvary, for the Medal of Honor. At noon, burritos will be available for purchase and birthday cake and ice cream will be served.

At 6, Saturday evening, the New Deal Theater will open for dinner prepared by Los Campos. The presentation, "My Summer Vacation" from the Journal of Robert Grierson, will be by Larry Francell. Robert was the son of Colonel Grierson who was commander of Fort Davis, Texas, during the Victorio Campaign.

Larry Francell is the retired director of the Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross University, Alpine, Texas. He holds degrees from Austin College and the University of Texas. After many museum positions, in 1997 he and his wife moved to Fort Davis, Texas. He is the author of "Fort Lancaster: Texas Frontier Sentinel" and "Fort Davis," an Arcadia Publishing Images of America Publication.

For more information or to make dinner reservations, call 575-388-4477 or 575-956-3294.