WASHINGTON — There are many ceremonies happening across the DMV this Veterans Day to honor those who serve our country.
The African American Civil War Memorial and Museum's "Salute to Veterans" program will take place Thursday at 11 o'clock with a wreath-laying ceremony.
"We pause for a moment to pay tribute to them, not only to the men and women whose names are on the wall so many years ago, but we also have an active duty military person come every year for Veterans Day to speak," said Smith.
This year they plan to dedicate the ceremony to the late General Colin Powell.
"In 1998 when we opened this memorial, we reached out to General Powell. He was the highest ranking African-American in the military and he graciously accepted our invitation," said Founding Director Dr. Frank Smith.
Founding Director Dr. Frank Smith said he remembers the day Colin Powell visited the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum.
"When you were around him, you felt like you were somebody special. He was somebody special but special people try to make you feel special and Powell was one of those guys," said Smith.
During the visit, they took a photograph that features Smith walking alongside General Colin Powell saluting Civil War reenactment soldiers.
"When he walked up and down that line, every single one of the soldiers thought he was giving them a personal inspection and he was saying hello to them and thank you very much for their service and it was special to hear him saying that. He was a special person and we were blessed to have lived in a time when Colin Powell lived among us," Smith said.
"We have this iconic photograph of Powell walking along the parade route among his soldiers and there are about 15 or 20 guys that you can identify that are standing there with him," said Smith.
One of the men who was identified in the photograph will be speaking at the "Salute to Veterans" ceremony. "He will call the role of those people we can recognize who were there with him that day," said Smith.
"He went through a lot and yet throughout all of that, he persevered and he went on to become the nation's highest military person and of course he went on from there to become secretary of state," said Smith.
"It is the mission of the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum to correct a great wrong in history which pretty much ignored the heroic role of 209,145 US Colored Troops in ending slavery and keeping America united under one flag. The Museum uses a rich collection of artifacts, documents, primary sources, and technology to create a meaningful learning experience for families, students, Civil War enthusiasts, and historians about the period from the American Civil War to Civil Rights and beyond," the museum shared on its website.
The "Salute to Veterans" ceremony begins at 11 o'clock on Veterans Day. It is outdoors and open to the public.
If you would like to attend virtually, the museum also plans to stream the ceremony virtually.