ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – A long-overlooked chapter of Franklin County’s history is now etched in bronze.
Community members gathered Sunday afternoon on the grounds of First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount for the unveiling of a 14-foot monument honoring 70 Black men from Franklin County who served in the U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War. The men fought for their freedom, citizenship, and the preservation of the Union.
The monument features a bronze figure created by renowned sculptors Rick Weaver and Paul DiPasquale and is among fewer than 25 monuments nationwide honoring Black Civil War soldiers. Organizers say it is the first monument in Virginia dedicated to the United States Colored Troops.
Eric Anspaugh, president of the Franklin County NAACP, said the monument represents a piece of local history many residents never learned.
“We want folks to know that this represents part of Franklin County’s history,” Anspaugh said. “And if you’re a longtime Franklin County resident, this is some history you didn’t know about and we’re bringing that to light for you.”
Efforts to create the monument gained momentum after a 2020 voter referendum blocked attempts to relocate a Confederate monument from the county courthouse grounds. Rather than abandon their work, members of the Franklin County NAACP and community volunteers redirected their focus toward honoring Black soldiers whose contributions had gone unrecognized.
Over the next two years, researchers identified 70 Black men born in Franklin County who enlisted in the U.S. Colored Troops.
Across the country, recognition for those soldiers remains rare.
“Across the United States, there’s like 24, maybe two dozen statues to the United States Colored Troops,” Anspaugh said. “Ours will be the first one in the state of Virginia.”
For descendants, the unveiling carried deep personal significance. Raffeal Sears attended the ceremony to honor his third great-grandfather, Peter Hooks, whose name is engraved on the monument.
“I’m here where he was born, but I’m also here where he was enslaved,” Sears said. “And just to be here is very spiritual.”
The unveiling was held on the eve of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day federal holiday. Event organizers noted the timing was intentional, saying the soldiers’ sacrifices helped lay the foundation for future civil rights progress.
Military veteran Larry Moore said he hopes the monument will serve as a unifying symbol for the community.
“Hopefully it will be a point of interest that will help bring us together,” Moore said.
The project received a $285,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation, along with support from Virginia Tech faculty and students. A community reception followed the unveiling at the Harvester Performance Center, where Dr. Frank Smith, founder and executive director of the African American Civil War Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., delivered the keynote address.
Organizers say the monument ensures the soldiers it honors are no longer hidden or erased from history.
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