This monument is dedicated to the Union soldiers and the slaves for whose freedom they fought. This 4 foot marble cube will have a weatherproof LED panel with touch screen capability to showcase the Civil War's main battlegrounds and the stories of famous slaves. Dred Scott comes to mind when thinking of famous slaves; In March of 1857, the United States Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, declared that all blacks - slaves as well as free - were not and could never become citizens of the United States. The court also declared the 1820 Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, thus permitting slavery in all of the country's territories.
If this monument were erected, then all could learn the history of slavery in America and about those individuals who stood out even under such abject conditions. The cube would stand in the middle of Union Square so named because it once was the site for Union soldier rallies during the war. It is my hope to reclaim the historical landmark for the purpose of education on the evils of slavery and what this country did to rectify the situation.
Background
The idea for the monument came to me after reading abolitionist literature by Thomas Payne and after viewing the movie, Lincoln. The literature led me to the concept of a monument and my moral outrage over slavery, and the movie made me think of the Union soldiers who bravely fought for freedom for those disenfranchised people.
Estimated Costs
The amount that I estimated was based upon permits, construction materials, 20-year endowment for maintenance and conservation, leasing of land and weatherproof, touch-sensitive LED panels. The cost for the project came to $5 million. I am allotting for a security guard and for a structure to keep the monument safe from vandalizers during down time.
