Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Feb. 16, 2005

The Spirit of Freedom

Two years into the Civil War the U.S. War Department established a separate bureau to authorize and organize black troops. That day, May 22, 1863, is remembered as Founders Day. It took 133 years after the war's end before the first official, national monument to the U.S. colored troops was dedicated.

Located in the nation's capital the African-American Civil War Memorial stands as a tribute to the valor of the 166 regiments of African-American soldiers serving in the Union forces. In the federal park at 10th & U St. NW and Vermont Ave., two semi-circular walls are mounted with stainless steel plaques bearing the names of 209,145 black soldiers and their 7,000 white officers. It is estimated that 30,000 served as sailors.

Tremendous effort went into compiling these names. The National Archives maintains the official Union Army records. The National Park Service's project known as the "Civil War Soldiers System" drew the names from the National Archives records. They were processed, verified and then provided to the Civil War Freedom Foundation. The park service has a computerized database of all Civil War soldiers, Confederate and Union.

The centerpiece of the memorial was envisioned as a sculpture and a nationwide competition was held. Ed Hamilton, a native of Louisville, KY, was awarded the commission in 1993. Hamilton studied at the Louisville School of Art and in 1978 opened the Ed Hamilton Studios, Inc. in his hometown.

In 1999 I attended a conference in Louisville and Ed Hamilton spoke at one of the sessions. It was my introduction to this memorial. He told us about the 3,000 pound bronze sculpture standing nine-feet high that he had completed in April of 1977. Then it was cast in bronze by Baltimore's New Arts Foundry and installed at its permanent site.

Hamilton called his creation "Spirit of Freedom." Three black soldiers and a sailor are stepping off to war leaving their tearful families behind. He spoke about the dedication and unveiling on July 18, 1998. A full schedule of events was planned each day, Wednesday through Saturday, when the "Spirit of Freedom" was unveiled.

Late in 2004 I remembered that presentation by Ed Hamilton when I saw an article with the words, "The marker to black soldiers became embroiled in a dispute soon after its dedication in 1998." The story explained that the memorial was planned as a gift to the nation. It had been financed by a private foundation and built by the D.C. Department of Public Works. Following the dedication it was to turned over to the National Park Service which is charged with maintaining such memorials.

It wasn't exactly a war but it certainly was a skirmish which caused a long six-year delay as the argument continued over who was to do what. The park service refused to include the site in its portfolio until the city made basic repairs. A water leak had damaged some of the stainless steel plaques which were engraved with names.

The city refused to do the necessary repairs until the park service set a transfer date; the park service held firm they would not set a date until the repairs were done.

Which party blinked first, or maybe both just grew weary, the official transfer of the title from the city to the park service was held in a quiet ceremony at the memorial late last October.

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday.