Colored troop Monument outside First Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, VA. – Photo by S. Hale

Statue is first of its kind in Virginia

by S. Rotan Hale

Hundreds braved the cold on a historic day January 18th in the town of Rocky Mount, in Franklin County, Virginia as the veil was lifted twice (first by the wind) on a monument honoring 70 Franklin County natives – African Americans who were Union soldiers in the Civil War. The troops were part of over 200,000 Colored troops in the Union Army.

Crowds of onlookers packed Angle Street outside First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount as the 14-foot monument was unveiled to much fanfare that included an official Military Color Guard salute. Many officials, invited guests and retired military veterans joined a host of concerned citizens who gathered under a large tent to witness the historic event.

Eric Anspaugh, president, Franklin County NAACP, presided over the program.

“This project shines the light on unresearched, unspoken history of seventy Franklin County-born Black men who fought for the Union as United States Colored troops. For too long their names and their service were absent from the public record and from our shared history. Today we correct that silence. We remember you, we honor you and we thank you.” Anspaugh said in opening remarks.

The monument by sculptors Rick Weaver and Paul DiPasquale is the first of its kind in Virginia and features a bronze figure of a union soldier standing with rifle-in-hand atop a marble base bearing the names of the 70 soldiers.

A voter referendum in 2020 blocked an attempt to relocate a confederate statue outside the Franklin County Courthouse. As a result, the Franklin County NAACP along with local supporters launched the “Raising the Shade Project.” After years of extensive research by area volunteers and the local NAACP the monument is now a reality.

The project was funded by the Mellon Foundation and supported by Virginia Tech’s Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia initiative.

“Being a retired Army Veteran, it brought tears to my eyes, to witness this historic event, to honor the 70 Black soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union Troops,” said Brenda Hale, president, NAACP Roanoke Chapter who was one of many Roanokers who made the trip for such a historic day in Virginia history. “Many gave the ultimate sacrifice to this country where they were still being treated as 3/5ths of a person. I am so proud of the Franklin County NAACP Branch, for stepping out in uncharted waters and making this happen.

Among the many other attendants visiting the area for the unveiling was Raffael Sears a descendant, who travelled from Kansas City, Missouri to honor his grandfather PVT Peter Hooks one of the 70 men whose names are inscribed in the base of the monument.

“ I’m here where my grandfather was born but I’m also here where he was enslaved,” said Sears, who found out about his relative through researching geological files.

The momentous festivities continued with a grand reception at the Harvester Performance Center, three blocks away where everyone dined on an incredibly abundant supply of hors d’oeuvres.

According to sources there are fewer than 25 monuments honoring US colored troops nationwide. Now, with this unveiling, Virginia once again stands tall in the mix.

Crowds of onlookers pack Angle Street outside First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount as the 14-foot monument to Colored Troops was unveiled in the town of Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Va. Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. – Photo by S. Hale

Source