Young's forced retirement, and his subsequent protest horseback ride to Washington, DC in protest from his home in Ohio in June 1918 to prove his physical fitness to Secretary of War Baker became legend in the African American community. Therefore, in the '70's I began my dramatization/TV series proposal with his legendary ride. How he remained dignified, brave, courageous and level-headed in the face of adversity while never compromising his beliefs in the worth of his country, his race or in the brotherhood of all of humankind, is a keystone of my dramatization…for Young was a man who often had views far ahead of his time.

For Instance, he was one of few exemplary, evolved men of any era - the kind of person that has elevated beyond the emotions of hatred, spite, revenge, and the segregative thinking that has made humankind repeatedly REGRESS instead of PROGRESS...regressing because of universal age-old hatreds, even in this current age of great technical and scientific advancements. That's why the telling of his story is so very essential, especially in today's turbulent times. For how he lived out his final years only further demonstrates that his kind of character traits should be emulated by the youth of all peoples, of all lands.

Ironically, Young's retirement was short lived because just five days before the end of World War I, he was restored to active duty by the United States Army. At that time, Young's patriotism outweighed any feelings of disappointment that he may have experienced surrounding his forced retirement and the denial of combat duty with its possibility of advancement to General. Therefore, the fact that he answered this final call to duty with his customary dignity only served to illustrate the exceptional character of this extraordinary African American patriot.

In further irony, during the winter of 1919, Young received orders to return to Liberia as military attaché. My etching that follows - "Africa at Dawn" - is a tribute to Young's work in and dedication to Africa, for he died in Africa on January 8, 1922 in Nigeria while on leave researching facts about the ancient city of Kano.

At the request of his wife Ada, along with nation-wide concerns of African Americans, Young's body was returned for burial with honors in Arlington National Cemetery the following year. Two of my remaining etchings:

"Hero of Race - Laid to rest at Arlington" and "In Memory of Colonel Young" are my personal tribute to Young and his legacy to our nation.

Young is buried in the Valhalla of Heroes at Arlington National Cemetery, and I invite you to visit his gravesite to pay your own personal tribute to the life of this extraordinary American soldier.