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“African American Civil War Memorial & Museum”

Sunday, September 30   |   3:00 p.m. in the Barn

Sotterley Plantation is proud to partner with The Boeing Company in announcing the upcoming 2012 Speaker Series presentation entitled “African American Civil War Memorial and Museum” by Frank Smith, Ph.D. Fulfilling a lifelong dream to honor African Americans who fought for freedom as United States Colored Troops during the Civil War, he is the founder and president of this significant Washington, D.C., memorial and museum.

The United States Colored Troops made up over 10 percent of the Union or Northern Army even though they were prohibited from joining until July 1862, 15 months into the war. They comprised 25 percent of the Union Navy. Yet, only one percent of the Northern population was African American. Clearly overrepresented in the military, African Americans played a decisive role in the Civil War. African Americans fought in every major campaign and battle during the last two years of the war earning 25 Medals of Honor. Abraham Lincoln, recognizing their contributions, declared, “Without the military help of the black freedmen, the war against the South could not have been won.”

This event is FREE to the public. Advance reservations are required due to limited seating. Call 301-373-2280 to make your reservation.

Because of the generous grant and continued support from The Boeing Company, Sotterley Plantation is able to offer this important community outreach, fulfilling its mission of serving as an educational resource and cultural venue while it seeks to preserve, interpret and research the plantation’s diverse cultures and environments through its history.