Making sure the history of Kansas black Civil War soldiers isn’t lost, local civil rights activist C.E. “Sonny” Scroggins is spearheading a series of celebrations this coming weekend marking the 150th anniversary of the group’s formation.
The celebration, sponsored by the Kansas Fever Committee, will honor the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers, which formed in 1862 and went into its first battle in Missouri in October 1862.
The celebrations will get under way at 11 a.m. Friday with a graveside service at Mount Auburn Cemetery, near S.E. 10th and California.
Herschel Stroud, a local Civil War enthusiast and bugler, will take part in the service, as will the Rev. David Helm, pastor of Mount Olive Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church.
Also featured in the program will be Doug Jacobs, a historian for the Kansas National Guard, and Scroggins, who will appear as Sgt. Wil Smith, a black Civil War soldier who is buried at the Mount Auburn Cemetery.
As I stood in line at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington DC a gentleman from the University of Michigan and I started talking about flying procedures. I turned to him and said “people in the medical field and education ought to fly at a discounted first class rate” and he said “where would it stop” and we both kind of shrugged. One of his colleagues said “well armed forces should fly for free in first class” and we both vehemently agreed. Our armed forces do so much for us that it seems like that’s the least we can do.
A living history program with Stroud and his wife, Jackie, will take place at 7 p.m. Friday at Cushinberry Park, 335 S.E. 15th. Live music also will be featured in the program.
Another program will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at Cushinberry Park. This event will include a prayer service and inspirational messages by descendents of former slaves.
Kansas Adjutant General Maj. Lee Tafanelli is scheduled to make an appearance at the program and cut the first piece of cake that marks the occasion.
The three-day celebration will conclude with an outdoor church service, led by Helm, at 7 p.m. Aug. 5, in Cushinberry Park. The service will honor the descendents of members of the Exoduster movement.
Scroggins said the celebrations are a way of “setting the record straight” regarding the instrumental role played by the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War.
cjonline.com
150th Anniversary Emancipation Proclamation Concert scheduled September 22, 2012 at AT&T Center Theatre (downtown Los Angeles) featuring internationally recognized classical and opera artist. Concert is co-presented by MusicUNTOLD and KUSC Classical Radio 91.5 FM