A Vietnam veteran is Rockland County's 2018 Buffalo Soldier Award recipient.

Robert Ellison, of Spring Valley, was honored at a special ceremony in Pomona on Wednesday.

"Buffalo Soldier" is the nickname first given to the members of African-American cavalry regiments of the U.S. army who served from 1867 to 1896 in the Western part of the country. "It's an outstanding group, the Buffalo Soldiers. To patronize and follow their path, it's amazing to be recognized as one," says Ellison.

Since 1993, Rockland has presented more than 30 Buffalo Soldier awards.