That started in early may of 64. It is a long road to peters work. We started this for three parts on made third. Park the national military. We have moved south ever since. It has been quite a feat for the national service. Make a tried to continual program rather than wilderness,t as the octal dania. This was one continual process for the these soldiers. We have seen faces before. You been on the road with us and we appreciate that. I would like to introduce to you lewis beganendent his career in 1984, a park ranger. He took his first herman it position at those sites the following year in 1985 as park ranger and Resource Management visitor Protection Specialist at the sites there. 1990 he moved to the parkway in virginia. He served as a Law Enforcement ranger with the added duties of supervising Law Enforcement, and he was responsible for a living history appalachian farm and seasonal visitor contact stations. He became chief ranger at booker t. Washington in 1992. The chief of interpretation responsible for the interpretation and visitor protection, Resource Management, fire management, and collection management at the side. He became a supervisory park range of Law Enforcement at Independence National struggle park and moved to valley forge in 1997 as a supervisory park ranger and lend later as the chief ranger were he managed Law Enforcement and interpretation. In 2009 he took on the role of superintendent in new hampshire. He became superintendent of Petersburg National battlefield in 2010. Most recently served as our acting deputy regional director, the chief of staff original director here for the northeast region. He holds bachelors degree in parks and recreation, with concentration with Resource Management. He is a graduate of the federal Law Enforcement Training Center with basic Law Enforcement criminal investigative background. It is my privilege to introduce him to you. [applause] thank you. I appreciate the introduction. I am very honored to be here today. I want to take some time while i am here to let you know just what this means to me. When i was a child, ira member sitting in front of the tv. This goes back a ways when blackandwhite movies dominated. This goes back a ways. When 12 00 came, the tv actually went off. [laughter] i came or members sitting in front of the tv late at night. Ive are member watching the old war movies. I remember watching john wayne, and those guys as they fought in battle. They cried and died and fought for freedom. I can remember all of those things. I fell in love with those movies. It inspired me. It motivated me. Then one day a peculiar thing happened. I can remember during that time that we began to integrate our schools. I can remember the fourth possible. I can remember how it affected me and how i watched the social and racial unrest that played our country. I can remember the American Flag being carried in the hands of the ku klux klan members. It waved. These images began to enter my mind and poisoned my imagination. When i began to watch fighters on tv again, a small voice echoed in the back of my mind. It told me if you were there, you would not have done these things. These images were not for you. Perhaps you would have been a porter, a dishwasher, or a bellman. If you were there you would never have flown those planes. Because of these images i believe that. I believed i never would have fought in combat, i would never have served on a naval ship. That voice had a peculiar effect. I found myself drawing away from america. In school i stood for the pledge of allegiance but i stop crossing my heart. I would not repeat the words. I felt the country had rejected me. I felt i was lost. A stranger in a strange land. I could not understand why i was here. This land may have been your land, but i did not feel this land was my land. When i saw the stars and stripes waving in the breeze, when i saw the stars and stripes on porches, or on the fourth of july parade, i actually believed that flag did not waive for me. It stood for a different society. A different people. The it did not represent me. Then one day i picked up a book, and it was a small magazine put out by a man by the name of tony brown. In that book he dedicated the entire book to this story of the tuskegee airmen. I learned about the Fighter Group which included the 100th, three hundred first, along with the 477 the bomber crew. A peculiar thing happened to me. I began to dream again. I could see myself in history, and perhaps i could have served at valley forge under george washington. Now i knew they were there. Perhaps i would have served upon the u. S. Constitution in 1812, or fought the british. I could see myself there. Perhaps i could have served here in petersburg in 1864 in the u. S. Ct, or perhaps in 1866i couldve helped settle the west as a soldier fighting in the ninth or fifth calvary. Perhaps i would have been born a slave, but later graduated from west point. Perhaps i wouldve found myself in the spanishamerican war as a soldier. Or in world war i in the. 69th, 370th, fighting under a french commander. Perhaps i could have been the first africanamerican to fly in combat during world war ii, whose model was a heart with an arrow through it. Or the first black saber to receive the naval cross during pearl harbor. Perhaps i would have been at one of the first black marines in the segregated army. Perhaps i would have been part of the 320th, the only balloon barrage of italian that landed on the beaches of utah and omaha on dday. Or the 93rd infantry, while fighting the enemy to keep them from destroying what i have built. Or the red ball express, with 77 participation. Perhaps i could have served with them when they forced a hole in secret line. Perhaps i could have been when they linked up with the soviets in austria. Or the 8th marine infantry. Buffalo soldiers fought in korea and later 580 jets. Perhaps i could have been charles young, the third africanamerican to graduate from west point. The first two obtained the rank of colonel. He was appointed the first acting superintendent at Sequoia National park. That was too long ago, but i can be one now. As i continue to educate myself about the contributions of africanamericans in times of war, something peculiar began happening. When i look at those movies again, i couldnt hear that voice anymore. My love affair with those movies rekindled. This is the most peculiar part. Not just the ones about black fighters. I began to embrace of the leathernecks, the black sheep, the dirty dozen. What changed was i had found my place in history. I knew i was there. Just out of the scene, flying those planes. Driving those tanks. I found my place in history, and something to be proud of. We all want to tell those tales of history. We want to hear those parts, to shape the hearts of our children. They compel us to get out of bed he was appointed the first acting superintendent at Sequoia National park. That was too long ago, but i can be one now. As i continue to educate myself about the contributions of africanamericans in times of war, something peculiar began happening. When i look at those movies again, i couldnt hear that voice anymore. My love affair with those movies rekindled. This is the most peculiar part. Not just the ones about black fighters. I began to embrace of the leathernecks, the black sheep, the dirty dozen. What changed was i had found my place in history. I knew i was there. Just out of the scene, flying those planes. Driving those tanks. I found my place in history, and something to be proud of. We all want to tell those tales of history. We want to hear those parts, to shape the hearts of our children. They compel us to get out of bed in the morning and push on through another day. People want to see themselves in history. In october, in the late 1980s, i was taking the oath with other sailors. I found myself on a plane off to the u. S. Navy rotc. I found myself to be a cb. A few years ago, i found myself watching my son pass in review. I know this is not true, but sometimes the voices of hate can be so loud you can hear the voices of reason. I asked wayne to a young man we have been serving this country since our conception. I explained about the Buffalo Soldiers and the 761st battalion. He said i think i can serve. Eisele john wayne, and i loved him. I saw the black sheep, and i loved them. It was described by something chappy said, and was written later in a book. He titled his book an american. He said when a reporter asked about his title and what he titled it so simply, he said i fought to heart for this country and i have lived here, and i have given. He said ive done too much. Im not a black american. Im not africanamerican. I am simply, an american. You know, something happened to me when i went back to school. I stood stronger. I crossed my heart. I said those words with pride. Now, when i look and see the American Flag blowing in the wind, waving in the breeze, i have come to realize that flag waves for me. Thank you. [applause] thank you. This morning, our colors will be presented by the color guard. Would you please rise. This is followed by the national anthem. . [national anthem] . . [color guard] our invocation will be given our invocation will be given by dr. George lyons. He is pastor here in petersburg. Pray with me as i pray aloud in my tradition. Gracious god, after 150 years of reflection and remembrance, we invoke your name so that you would pride our hearts to member the lives lost in battle, so that we might see peace in our times. Women and men together from every station and culture, 150 years later, in harmony, as community. Out of this place of sorrow, make this day a celebration, a celebration of the community of humanity. Our plea remains, sectional strife be forgotten in the name of the one who is our everlasting fortress and peace, amen. We are fortunate this morning. We have worked hard, with the u. S. Postal service, to make this event what it is today. We are honored to have with us this morning the chief postal inspector of the u. S. Postal Inspection Service. Guy petrill. He overseas all aspects of the Postal Service. You can have a seat. [laughter] hopefully that is my glitch of the day. The National Headquarters office includes 18 field divisions, to service centers, and the National Forensics laboratory. It is staffed by 700 police officers, and 600 support personnel. He serves as chairman of the universal postal unions postal security group. He oversaw all National Security programs for the Postal Service. He is a native of west virginia. He grew up in new orleans. He joined a Postal Service in 1987. 1991, he became a postal inspector where he investigated internal and external mail theft. Since that time, he has held a number of management positions in metropolitan areas. In 2008, he served as inspector in charge where he guided the Postal Service toward a risk and management analysis platform, and implemented numerous costeffective and innovative solutions. He overhauled the external website. He holds a bachelors degree. It is my pleasure to introduce him. [applause] thank you. I was going to tell you to sit down. I like a crowd that knows what you are doing. If i go too long you can walk out on me. It is neat. Great remarks. We stand in the shadow of the crater, the earth that location to dedicate the civil war battle of petersburg stamp today. This is a latest in a series of stamps that celebrates the 150th anniversary of the civil war. Today we commemorate 2 battles in the conflict. In mobile, alabama they are dedicating a second stamp, it depicts admiral farraguts battle in mobile. It is fitting i am here to dedicate this historic civil war stamp. Why . The Inspection Service played a vital role in keeping our country connected during and after the war. It has been protecting United States mail and customers for two centuries am including the civil war years. Special agents were known to introduce services that are still used this very day. The postal money order. Money orders have their origin in the war between the states. Special agents also helped deliver mail to troops in the field. They reestablished mail service in southern communities as they return to federal control. The stamp we dedicate here today is a rendering of the painting, the charge of the 22nd negro regimen. It depicts an early part of the petersburg campaign, it was the longest, most complex, and perhaps most important of the civil war. Today we also have the stamp designer, phil jordan. The soldiers shown on the stamp were part of the 175th regimen. These troops are fighting not just for the continuation of the nation, they were fighting for their own freedom and the freedom of their families. The United States colored troops were made up of freed blacks from the north and escaped and freed slaves from the south. These troops formed after the emancipation proclamation. Brave men put their lives on the line in order to prove that they were fit to be citizens. Riders, statesman, and abolitionist Frederick Douglass said let the black man get upon his person the button us, and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny the right to citizenship. The colored troops made up 10 of the strength of the union army. The troops were instrumental in the success of many of major late were campaigns. Referring to them, an officer of the colored infantry wrote i never saw troops fight better, more bravely, and with more determination. With the issuance of this year civil war stamp, the Postal Service is proud to honor the memory of these troops. It is proud to honor all the soldiers and sailors who served. The petersburg in mobilebased stamps are being issued as forever stamps. They will always be good to mail a card or letter no matter what the postage rate may be, to honor the troops that help serve to reignite this nation. If i could have those on stage join me, we will unveil the civil war battle of petersburg stamp. [no audio] i have the privilege this morning of introducing to you dr. Malcolm beech. He is from north carolina. He attended undergraduate school in atlanta, georgia. He accepted a Marketing Management position with verizon in washington d. C. He completed a doctoral studies in marketing from the university of phoenix. A thirdgeneration serial entrepreneur, he found a multimillion dollar Entertainment Company with five locations in washington, d. C. As a civil war historian, he is the founding director of the Cultural Heritage museum in north carolina, dedicated to the two hundred thousand africanamerican soldiers who follow the union army in the american civil war. As a civil war historian, he is the founding director of the Cultural Heritage museum in north carolina, dedicated to the two hundred thousand africanamerican soldiers who thought with the union army in the american civil war. Presently, dr. Beach is president of the United States Living History Association, dedicated to preserving the history of africanamerican participation in the civil war. He is the Senior Vice President of the National Business league, the National Business trade association done that by booker founded by dr. Booker t. Washington in 1900. Also, he is the past chairman of the district of Columbia Chamber of commerce, the largest Business Membership Organization in the washington metropolitan area. It is my pleasure to introduce to you [applause] thank you. I didnt realize i was that old and had been around that long. [laughter] you start to do these reenactments and think about the 1800s and say maybe i have been around for a while. Good morning to all of you. I wanted to thank you for coming out. This stamp in the ceremonies this stamp and the ceremony surrounding it means a lot to us. We are reenactors. We are commemoraters of the thousands of africanamericans who fought for their freedom during the american civil war. We go all of the country not only doing reenactments, but we do living history demonstrations. What we find is that the impact on our audience, especially the young audience, they can see especially the young audience, as our superintendent said earlier, they can see themselves in history. When they see us, they see people that look like them. They understand how important this particular war was to the africanamerican community. Just to put in quantitative perspective, before the civil war began, there were 4 million africanamericans enslaved in the United States. After the civil war was over in 1865, there were zero. Ok . That is the most significant event in the history of africanamericans in this country. Equally as important, as you heard earlier, the north might have been fighting to keep the union together. The south was fighting for something called states rights. But the africanamerican in u. S. Africanamerican u. S. Colored troops were fighting for their freedom. As well as their manhood. Slavery had a way of emasculating the men and families when they could protect their families against the cruel actions of slaveholders. Part of this war was about reclaiming and recapturing manhood. It made a difference when you had a uniform, and a weapon, and you went on to free your family. You got a different response than just saying a few kind words. To some slaveholder. When he saw that been coming at him, it made a difference. We tell our family members to recall the fact that slaves actually freed themselves. Lets be clear. Prior to 1863, the south was winning the war. Lincoln decided it was a military, Strategic Plan to issue the emancipation proclamation at a time when he had no control over the slave areas. Right . But he freed the slaves. In the emancipation proclamation there was a clause that allowed africanamericans to join union forces, get a uniform, and fight in the battles. In actuality, the slaves freed themselves. This is the kind of independence that we are proud of. That is why the stamp today though important. Is so very important. We are very happy and pleased with the Postal Service for and the National Park service for having this ceremony here today. It is going to tell everybody across america these men fought for their own freedom. That is what is important. I want to thank my fellow reenactors here with us today and all the members of the United States colored troops Living History Association for what you do and what we did. Telling the story of africanamerican participation in the civil war. Thank you for coming today. [applause] three cheers for the post office. Huzzah. Huzzah huzzah hoorah [applause] forward march. Thank you. This morning, to give us perspective on the battle of the crater, the significance the event holds, and it was said earlier, petersburg is a complex military operation. Nine and a half months, 292 days. We are just in the beginning. But of the military actions, one stands out above all of the others. That is the crater. On a daily basis we have visitors here, they want to know where is the crater. People know it is here. It is at petersburg. When we were at antietam, two years ago how many cornfields do we have in the United States . [laughter] but if you say the cornfields, people know which you were talking about. You say the crater, people know what youre talking about. This morning, i am privileged to introduce a friend, a Career Service member of the National Parks service, James Blankenship jr. He is native to the petersburg area. He began his career in 1975. A seasonal park ranger at peterburg petersburg. In 1981 he accepted his First Permanent position at Independence National store park. National historical park. In 1982 he returned to virginia after excepting a position at Colonial National historical park. In 1984, he returned to petersburg. He has held the position of historian, and historian curator of the battlefield. During his time he participated in curatorial projects at George Washingtons birthplace, sagamore hill, Longfellow National Historic site, sandy Hook National seashore, and jamestown and yorktown collections at National Historical park. He is a member of the northeast region curatorial Emergency Response team. He spent 30 years firing civil war artillery. Primarily field artillery. He served at the National Level of 19th century all territory instructor with the National Park service historical weapons program. He is in the process of completing a manuscript on the United States military railroads during the siege of petersburg. He holds a degree in history from virginia commonwealth university. Again it is with pleasure i introduced the parks historian and good friend, jimmy blankenship. [applause] folks, when we first started this process, they wanted a talk on the battle of the crater. I said, sure, i would be glad to do it. I was told i had 10 minutes. Im going to condense nine hours into 10 minutes. It might be longer. Needless to say i cannot do justice to the heroism both sides showed out here in 10 minutes
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