Freetown Village is one of the many partners for the 25th Annual “Spirit of Freedom,” a celebration of the many thousands of African Americans who fought during the Civil War. These U.S.C.T. (United States Colored Troops) represented one-tenth of the Union Army, a little-known fact of our Civil War history. Of the 1,537 members of the U.S.C.T. who fought for Indiana, 225 are buried within the Crown Hill National Cemetery.
During this highly educational event, up to 1,500 fifth and sixth grade Indianapolis Public School students will rotate between three stages in a large meadow as Civil War reenactors share first-person accounts from their character’s experiences and stories of other important African Americans who had a major impact upon the outcome of the Civil War.
FV ‘residents’ Rev. Strong ( who will also serve as Master of Ceremonies) and Sarah Elizabeth Brown Cuffee, a freeborn lady, and seamstress will be featured reenactors. Additional reenactors include Sgt. Andrew Smith of the 55th Mass. Colored Volunteers; Dr. Richard Gatling, Inventor of the Gatling Gun, who will be performing Gatling Gun firing demonstrations; Harriet Tubman, UGRR Agent & Army Spy; President Abraham Lincoln, Civil War President who brought an end to slavery; and Pvt. Stephen King, 28th Indiana Colored Infantry Drummer.
“Spirit of Freedom” is proudly presented by Crown Hill Heritage Foundation, along with Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, in partnership with Indianapolis Public Schools.
This event is FREE and open to the public.
Directions: Enter Crown Hill’s 34th St. & Boulevard Pl. gate (3400 Boulevard Place) and follow the traffic cones to the event site. Please bring a blanket or folding chair to sit on, and a picnic lunch if desired. “Spirit of Freedom” will be canceled in the event of rain.
MORE INFO & RSVP: Call (317) 226-2439 or email Pat Payne, paynep@myips.org.
Rev. Strong listening to reenactor President Lincoln speak to students.