Ft. Bayard Days

Friday and Saturday, September 18 & 19, Ft. Bayard Days were held at Ft. Bayard, Silver City, New Mexico. Home of one Regiment of African-American (Buffalo) soldiers, and one Regiment. (Ninth) U. S. Cavalry, has been a yearly event here in Silver City. This year, the Warm Springs Apache and Buffalo Soldiers' Association were invited to attend. I am not certain if an event with the Buffalo Soldiers and the Warm Springs Apaches ever went off, because I left around 2:15 Saturday. I hope that the expected event did occur.
The Chi henne N'de (Warm Springs>>Red Paint People) Apaches were those of the famous warrior, Victorio (Bi-duyait) as well as Nana, Loco, Lozen, Cuchillo Negro, Largo, and Ponce, among others. A good sized group of Apache, including the Medicine Man from San Carlos ... Michael ... were there singing and drumming today.
I heard one song about Lightning, which Michael said was more about the kind of lighting that slashes or cuts (like a sharp knife or scissors), horizontally across the sky. I did not know the words, but there was a very lively repetition of words and melody that I hope to hear again.
Michael is from San Carlos and is presently studying on an interdisciplinary curriculum at the University of Arizona, Tucson. He is quite versed in the ways of Apache Medicine, and has many fascinating stories of such.
A man from the Silver City area brought a beautiful American Eagle, Zoltar, to the festivities. The Eagle Zoltar was, without a doubt, the BIG hit of the day. Such a magnificent bird!!! I took many photographs of Zoltar, of which two are posted here now. I'm preparing to talk for the fourth time to Emil Franzi, of KVOI, Radio, Tucson, so I will post these pictures so folks can look for them on line.
I've seen eagles flying high over the southwestern New Mexico desert, and hope that you have, too, when you're out and about. Often, in the spring, the earliest eagles arriving in the area spend time on high power (high line) poles, that are along NM 180, East and West, of Silver City. It is not unusual to see Golden Eagles along NM 180 West, which is closest to the Gila River.