In September we brought you news of the preparations for the re-enactment of Harrisburg's Grand Review, the parade of African-American Union veterans that took place in Pennsylvania's capitol city in November, 1865. The re-enactment takes place this weekend, but this will not be the end of the festivities commemorating African-Americans' participation in the Union war effort. Our readers in central Pennsylvania will be interested to know that on Sunday, November 14 the town of Bellefonte will honor African-American Civil War veterans from Centre County. Bellefonte's Grand Review Recognition will take place at Union Cemetery on East Howard Street at 2:00 p.m. It will be preceded by a special worship service at the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church on St. Paul Street. Participants in the event will include various Civil War re-enactors, the Coburn Brass Band, and Penn State ROTC cadets, among others. The review will also consist of a flag presentation ceremony. Charles Dumas, Professor of Theater at Penn State, will be the master of ceremonies. The Bellefonte Grand Review is one of several state-wide events this year that honor the sacrifices of Pennsylvania's African-American citizens in the Civil War. African-American military service during the war was especially onerous. Not only did they suffer the humiliation of receiving lower wages than their white counterparts until late 1864, they also faced greater dangers in battle. Black soldiers captured by Confederate forces were subject to fierce abuse, summary execution, or enslavement. Despite these dangers, roughly 200,000 African-Americans served in the Union army and navy.
For more information about the Bellefonte Grand Review, click on the attachment below, or use the following contact information.
Gary Hoover: BellefonteCOC@aol.com, 814-355-2917
Candace Dannaker: Dannaker13@aol.com, 814-355-7577
http://centrecountyhistory.org/events/USCTAnnouncement.pdf
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