It’s About Time

Historian Robert Romer addresses a gathering at West Cemetery to honor the Afircan American Civil War Veterans of Amherst
Historian Robert Romer addresses a gathering at West Cemetery to honor the African American Civil War Veterans of Amherst

Walking through Amherst’s West Cemetery last year on Memorial Day, historian Robert Romer noticed that there were no flags on the graves of five African American soldiers who fought for the Union during the Civil War. He notified the town veterans’ agent, Steve Connor, to procure Grand Army of the Republic flag holders for the graves.

Romer and Connor decided that the correction of this oversight should be done with an official ceremony, so they located the descendants of the soldiers from around the country and other interested parties, and the upshot was a gathering of several hundred people at the cemetery on Sunday.

The choir from Hope Church performed magnificently and the crowd heard remarks about each of the soldiers from their descendants.

The event was followed by a fantastic feast at Hope Church in Amherst.

Warren Barnett of Springfield addresses the gathering.
Warren Barnett of Springfield addresses the gathering.

 

The Hope Church Choir
The Hope Church Choir