Rockland honors three military veterans with Buffalo Soldiers Awards for 2024

Steve Lieberman, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
Updated ·2 min read

POMONA − Three military veterans have received Rockland's prestigious awards for service to country and community.

The annual Buffalo Soldiers Award ceremony honored U.S. Army veterans James Epps and Grady Anderson Jr., a past recipient who received a lifetime achievement award for his service.

George Crouch, a World War II and Korean War veteran, received an Unsung Hero Award from the Buffalo Soldiers of Rockland County.

Buffalo Soldier Award recipient George Crouch sits between Rockland Veterans Services Coordinator Susan Branam, left, and Dr. Abigaile Taylor, right, a U.S. Army veteran who is president of the Rockland County Buffalo Soldiers, on Feb. 14, 2024, at the Rockland Fire Training Center in Pomona. (Credit: Rockland Veterans Services)
Buffalo Soldier Award recipient George Crouch sits between Rockland Veterans Services Coordinator Susan Branam, left, and Dr. Abigaile Taylor, right, a U.S. Army veteran who is president of the Rockland County Buffalo Soldiers, on Feb. 14, 2024, at the Rockland Fire Training Center in Pomona. (Credit: Rockland Veterans Services)

The presentations occurred Wednesday at the Rockland Fire Training Center. The plaques were handed out by County Executive Ed Day and Veterans Service Agency Coordinator Susan Branam.

Branam and Day also received honorary membership to the Buffalo Soldiers of Rockland County for encouraging the well-being of veterans and soldiers.

Legislator Toney Earl, D-Ramapo, Veterans Services Coordinator Susan Branam, County Executive Ed Day, and Grady Anderson Jr. at the annual ceremony held at the Rockland Fire Training Center on Feb 14, 2024. (Credit: Rockland Veterans Services) Published Image
Legislator Toney Earl, D-Ramapo, Veterans Services Coordinator Susan Branam, County Executive Ed Day, and Grady Anderson Jr. at the annual ceremony held at the Rockland Fire Training Center on Feb 14, 2024. (Credit: Rockland Veterans Services) Published Image

A "Buffalo Soldier" is the nickname given to the U.S. Army African American cavalry regiments who served in the western United States from 1867 to 1896.

“It takes a certain kind of person to place your own life on hold to put your country first but both awardees did it without hesitation,” Day said. “There’s no question, the freedoms we enjoy today would not be possible without the men and women who make the brave choice to serve our nation, including these local heroes, and it is my pleasure to recognize their courage.”

Buffalo Solider Rockland 2024.jpg Buffalo Soldier Award recipient Grady Anderson Jr. for 2024 stands between Legislator Toney Earl, left, Rockland Veterans Services Coordinator Susan Branam, and County Executive Ed Day on Feb. 14, 2024, at the Rockland Fire Training Center in Pomona. Anderson received a lifetime achievement award (Credit: Rockland Veterans Services Agency)

The County Executive's Office released bios on the recipients:

  • James Epps joined the Army in 1953 and was later stationed in Germany, where he served as a machine gunner until September 1956, when he was honorably discharged. Epps continued to serve his community delivering meals to senior citizens with the Prince Hall Freemasonry Tappan Zee Lodge No. 79, He has been a lodge member since 1975.

  • Grady Anderson, Jr. joined the Army in 1959 and served overseas in Germany. Upon his discharge in 1963, Anderson returned to Spring Valley. He worked as an x-ray technician. He served as a commander of Moscarella Post 199, belonged to VVA 333, and a past Chef de Gare of the 40&8. He also served as oratorical chair for the Rockland County American Legion for 8 years. Not only is he a past recipient of our Buffalo Soldier Award in 1993 he is co-founder and is a historian of Buffalo Soldier Awardees. He presents the group's history every year at the event. He's attended First Baptist Church of Spring Valley, where he's a deacon, for 60 years.

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Three Rockland military veterans honored with Buffalo Soldiers Awards