Friday, February 11, 2011

HARRISBURG'S TRIBUTE By Cecelia Lyden

acrylic on stretched canvas


14x18







A century and a half ago, the more than 180,000 African-American soldiers from 25 states who participated in the Civil War, were excluded from the 1865 Grand Review Military parade in Washington D.C. When they were not asked to join the celebratory parade, Harrisburg's Garnet Equal Rights League organized its own U.S. Colored Troops Grand Review.



This summer the first re-enactment of the parade took place in Harrisburg. My husband and I attended. I found ithe music, When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, The Battle Hymm of the Republic and the colors of the flags and uniforms emotional and stirring. I took lots of pictures and began painting this scene. I just finished it today.


















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