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January 18th , 2026, will be a historic day in the town of Rocky Mount, VA, the seat of Franklin County, founded in 1786. More than two years ago, a group of local community volunteers--some of them members of the local branch of the NAACP--and partners from around the state began work on a plan to honor seventy African American men, born in Franklin County, who fought for their own freedom as well as the preservation of the Union during America’s Civil War.Virginia Tech’s initiative titled Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia (MAAV), funded by the Mellon Foundation, accepted the Franklin County NAACP’s proposal for funding, and in the early spring of 2024, work began in earnest on Raising the Shade, Franklin County 1850 -1910. The project was designed to bring the entire community along on a journey to discover who these men were, their names obtained from archived military records. While research was initially begun by the Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project, contributions from professors, students, community researchers, National Archives and the African American Civil War Memorial Museum, allowed Raising the Shade to not only learn their names, but to shine a light on each man’s previously untold story.
It would be an honor to have you join us on Sunday, January 18th, for the unveiling of a monument by sculptors Rick Weaver and Paul DiPasquale, which memorializes these United States Colored Troops. The monument will stand facing Franklin Street on the grounds of the historic 19th-century First Baptist Church, currently undergoing renovation, at 135 Angle Street, Rocky Mount.
The outdoor ceremony will begin at 3 pm, followed by a reception at the Harvester Performance Center, 450 Franklin Street, just three blocks away. Free public parking is conveniently located nearby.
Snow/Rain alternative date will be January 25th and information will be posted on our website and social media should this be necessary.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
135 Angle St, Rocky Mount, VA 24151-1406, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
