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“On Behalf of Those
Who Lie in Yonder Hallowed Ground” celebrates the manly behavior of
our Civil War forbears.
Rochester-Monroe County Freedom Trail Commission, in collaboration
with Nazareth College Service Learning Center,
has organized a public commemoration unfolding May 23, and May 24, to
honor the 200,000 men of color and 7,000 white
officers who constituted the United States Colored Troops (USCT),
soldiers who served during the Civil War.
Freedom Trail
Commission Chairman, David A. Anderson, asserts that “the
commemoration is really about recovering a
curriculum, material for educating the African American young on
manhood strengths, character and behavior. For the
deeds, the valor of the men of color who fought Northern prejudice and
Southern slavery at the same time, set a standard
of manly behavior, never excelled, and probably not yet equaled. We
need to learn it and teach it—the honorable, yet
unappreciated behavior of the colored Yankee soldier.”
The commemoration
begins at noon, Friday, May 23 at Nazareth College, by recalling in
word and song, the struggle that
led to issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.
Charles Ben Hawley, John Gourdin, and Mel Reid,
re-enactors with Company B, 54th Massachusetts Infantry
Regiment, and members of the Unite States Colored Troops
Living History Association, will journey from Maryland and Virginia,
to aid in interpreting this history. They will collaborate
with Bing Reaves and other members of Rochester’s own Buffalo Soldiers
Presentation Team, to underscore the continuity
of manly behavior exemplified by black soldiers in the struggle for
freedom and citizenship.
“AKWAABA: the Heritage
Associates” will depict the anxieties expressed by Rochester’s African
American community on
the night before President Abraham Lincoln’s executive order
transformed the “white man’s war,” into a war to end slavery.
Volunteers—women nominated for the honor—will give a roll call of
United States Colored Troops affiliated with Rochester.
Rev. Alvin Parris is Minister of Music for the May 23 program. At
least ten community-centered men will also participate in
the commemorative activities.
The commemoration
continues, Saturday, May 24, at 10:45 a.m. when celebrants gather at
Riverside Cemetery on Lake
Avenue, salute Thomas Platner, the USCT soldier buried there with his
family. The commemoration concludes later that
day, 2:30 p.m., at Mt. Hope Cemetery, the Grand Army of the Republic
section (south end of the cemetery. Enter at 1133
Mt. Hope Ave., then follow the signs). Exhibits about Frederick
Douglass family members and the USCT will be on view at
a reception that will take place at the Cemetery office, 1133 Mt. Hope
Avenue.
“The bravery of the
USCT soldiers, who fought to end American slavery is a model for
citizens (especially, those of color)
to emulate as we navigate the often mean streets of our city,”
according to David Anderson. The Commission, established
in 2000 by former Mayor William A. Johnson Jr. with concurrence of
then Monroe County Executive John Doyle, seeks to
create an interpretive center to support and promote the Genesee
Country region’s key role in the Underground Railroad
freedom movement.
The Commission, in
collaboration with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
(Cincinnati) presented the
“Frederick Douglass International Underground Railroad Conference”
here last September. ”The lives of people determined
to take their freedom, and the courageous people that aided them were
central to the conference. The success of the
Underground Railroad was a major force in bringing on the Civil War.
Moreover, as veterans they were strong advocates
for family, education, voting, indeed, all the elements of civic
engagement—in making community.
For more
information the public may call: 753-2001 or visit
www.cityofrochester.gov
For underground
railroad tours:
www.akwaabatours.org |
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