There was a ceremony held on Saturday May 17th on the Town Green to commemorate the dedication of a Connecticut Freedom Trail monument.  A new foot stone and plaque were unveiled (by CFC’s own Denise Turner) to recognize Colchester’s nine African American soldiers and one sailor who served in the Civil War.  Two of those soldiers are among the names engraved on the Civil War monument—George Evans and Sanford Stewart.  Foot stones and plaques were also placed in Linwood Cemetery and in front of the Old Burying Ground (near our church) as some of these men returned to Colchester after the war and were buried here in town.

It was a lovely event featuring speakers from the State of Connecticut Freedom Trail and New England Civil War Museum.  Colchester resident Irene Watson in particular spent years doing research and advocating for these men to be recognized for their service. 

For Thursday Thoughts, I wanted to share some information about this event and encourage you to view the Freedom Trail markers as you are out and about in town.  It is compelling history that we should not forget.  Below is the prayer that I offered to close the ceremony:

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Loving God, we give you thanks for this gathering as we remembered and honored these particular veterans who served as soldiers and sailors from our Town of Colchester during the Civil War. 

We acknowledge that these brave men fought for the belief that all people are created equal, that all people are loved and cherished by you—as humanity is made in your image and likeness, O God.

We know that too often there are hidden histories all around us.  There are people forgotten and unnamed and skipped over in history class. 

There are stories we hardly ever hear.

So, we name before you and one another these African American sailors and soldiers from Colchester who served in the Civil War, with our eternal thanks for their service:

Elias Apes
William Brewster
George Evans
Joseph Hyde
Lyman Hyde
Sherry Jackson
Phillip James
Charles Quash
Augustus Ransom
Sanford Stewart
 
And we thank you, O God, for the opportunity to honor these men today. 
We humbly ask that their memories will be a blessing for us all. 
Thanks be to you, O God, Amen.
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Love,
Pastor Lauren

Thursday Thoughts 5/22/25

Photos by Rev. Lauren Ostrout.