LYNDIA GRANT & ASSOCIATES
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DESTINY'S DOOR
BY LYNDIA GRANT-BRIGGS
As the unveiling program progressed, my spiritual self seemed to leave my body, and I was observing the proceedings from a detached distance. I sat thanking God for having chosen me to be His hands to execute the vision He had given to the Honorable Councilman Frank Smith, Jr. The days, months and years leading up to this tribute to 209,145 U.S. Colored Troops and their 7,000 white officers were filled with seemingly insurmountable problems.
Our vision was to unveil the “Spirit of Freedom” sculpture and the memorial walls, listing all 209,145 names of the Colored Troops, in one special unveiling ceremony. But, the granite for the memorial walls did not arrive in time, and the special engraved plaques to be mounted on the Wall of Honor were not completed. I secured the services of a professional decorator, who transformed the unfinished cement walls by dressing them with a profusion of red, white and blue bunting which made a spectacular background for the monument and sculpture.
I knew this memorial was my task and that I had been chosen when descendants whom I had corresponded with for six or seven years came to me at the celebration, saying, “thank you for getting our ancestors their long over due recognition from this country.” I was overwhelmed with emotions that had me wiping tears all day. To the families I was a celebrity. Bodyguards escorted me through the crowds to keep me from having to stop for photographs and sign autographs.
This was Councilman Frank Smith’s dream, but he needed someone to work the day-to-day operations. I communicated with the descendants daily. We were both bombarded with telephone calls from descendants of 209,145 U.S. Colored Soldiers. Their descendants came from California, New York, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Canada, Australia, Germany and the four corners of the world.
The media coverage was spectacular. According to the report mailed to me from the Video Monitoring Service, C-SPAN, CNN, sixty-four local news stations, and one hundred and eighty-six national television stations carried the unveiling ceremony or promotional events. Both the Washington Post Sunday Edition and the Washington Times printed the story of the African American Civil War Memorial as their front-page story. The first and only national monument in the nation’s capital, which pays tribute to 209,145 disenfranchised citizens, who fought and over 30,000 who died to preserve this country. Most assuredly, this was front page news.
Meanwhile, the week of activities were underway with media consultants tracking the events, and others from the Washington Post and Televisions Networks covering the monument as it was installed. There were stations that asked me to tell them the exact route that the truck would take when bringing the monument to U Street. They wanted to know what major highways, beltways, Interstates, etc., would the trucks travel coming into Washington, D.C. from Baltimore.
When we arrived at the site, (after the program was completed at Arlington Cemetery and Amphitheater), we headed straight for U Street. There was a crowd already building and satellite trucks everywhere. Linda Wheeler, the Washington Post staff writer spoke with me many times over the years. She often confided in me, “This memorial is my absolute favorite.”
Satellite trucks were everywhere. All the key figures responsible for Monument were being interviewed on national television. The Founder and Chairman, Frank Smith was being interviewed, architect Paul Devrouax, our historian, Dr. Walter Hill, and board member/descendant Frances Murphy. They were all on various radio and/or TV morning news shows. Good Morning America was broadcasting live from the site at 6:00 a.m., while the site was still undressed; Fox Morning News was there as well. In fact, I was even asked to serve as the spokesperson with Tony Perkins, who had set up a live remote on-site. I did a seven?minute interview with him live from the exhibit hall.
The panoramic view of the official dedication was powerful and emotional. Maureen Bunyan, news anchor, WJLA TV-7, was the mistress of ceremonies. The United States Military Color Guard and Band presented the Colors. Speakers from the White House, the United States Congress, the Council of the District of Columbia, and the Office of the Mayor made presentations.
There were so many people at the site and the excitement was so high that we had to alter our plan for moving the dignitaries from the stage to the unveiling area. I had earlier ordered a royal blue cloth that covered the monument. Ed Hamilton, the sculptor, requested that we really drape the sculpture to present a compelling sight. Drummers were softly beating African drum rolls, as Nana Yaa Asantewa recited “The Spirit of Freedom” a story of the sculpture written by the artist, Ed Hamilton: “He shall cover thee with His feather, and under His wings shall thou trust.” Psalm 91. As the monument was being unveiled, TAPS was being played by a bugler from the Military District of Washington.
Many of the participants later told me that the presence and spirits of the ancestors were so powerful during the ceremony, they were unable to move. They were mesmerized, heeding messages of voices from the past. After the ceremonies, the line to view the monument continued for days and days.
I was awe struck ss I stood watching the crowds. It was difficult to comprehend what my eyes were seeing. This moment event will always remain alive and sheltered in a private chamber of my heart. May the story of the U.S. Colored Soldiers go down in the history books of schools, colleges and universities throughout America – They did their part to Save the Union.
After going “to the mountain top” my soul was restless. So, at the age of 47, I immersed myself in my courses at Trinity College to complete my first college degree. Three years later, I am pursuing my Masters Degree in Communication.
When I decided to open DESTINY’S DOOR, I now know that my decision was like “Alice” entering Wonderland; as one door opens another door is beckoning me to enter – and the fantasy never ends.
Our vision was to unveil the “Spirit of Freedom” sculpture and the memorial walls, listing all 209,145 names of the Colored Troops, in one special unveiling ceremony. But, the granite for the memorial walls did not arrive in time, and the special engraved plaques to be mounted on the Wall of Honor were not completed. I secured the services of a professional decorator, who transformed the unfinished cement walls by dressing them with a profusion of red, white and blue bunting which made a spectacular background for the monument and sculpture.
I knew this memorial was my task and that I had been chosen when descendants whom I had corresponded with for six or seven years came to me at the celebration, saying, “thank you for getting our ancestors their long over due recognition from this country.” I was overwhelmed with emotions that had me wiping tears all day. To the families I was a celebrity. Bodyguards escorted me through the crowds to keep me from having to stop for photographs and sign autographs.
This was Councilman Frank Smith’s dream, but he needed someone to work the day-to-day operations. I communicated with the descendants daily. We were both bombarded with telephone calls from descendants of 209,145 U.S. Colored Soldiers. Their descendants came from California, New York, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Canada, Australia, Germany and the four corners of the world.
The media coverage was spectacular. According to the report mailed to me from the Video Monitoring Service, C-SPAN, CNN, sixty-four local news stations, and one hundred and eighty-six national television stations carried the unveiling ceremony or promotional events. Both the Washington Post Sunday Edition and the Washington Times printed the story of the African American Civil War Memorial as their front-page story. The first and only national monument in the nation’s capital, which pays tribute to 209,145 disenfranchised citizens, who fought and over 30,000 who died to preserve this country. Most assuredly, this was front page news.
Meanwhile, the week of activities were underway with media consultants tracking the events, and others from the Washington Post and Televisions Networks covering the monument as it was installed. There were stations that asked me to tell them the exact route that the truck would take when bringing the monument to U Street. They wanted to know what major highways, beltways, Interstates, etc., would the trucks travel coming into Washington, D.C. from Baltimore.
When we arrived at the site, (after the program was completed at Arlington Cemetery and Amphitheater), we headed straight for U Street. There was a crowd already building and satellite trucks everywhere. Linda Wheeler, the Washington Post staff writer spoke with me many times over the years. She often confided in me, “This memorial is my absolute favorite.”
Satellite trucks were everywhere. All the key figures responsible for Monument were being interviewed on national television. The Founder and Chairman, Frank Smith was being interviewed, architect Paul Devrouax, our historian, Dr. Walter Hill, and board member/descendant Frances Murphy. They were all on various radio and/or TV morning news shows. Good Morning America was broadcasting live from the site at 6:00 a.m., while the site was still undressed; Fox Morning News was there as well. In fact, I was even asked to serve as the spokesperson with Tony Perkins, who had set up a live remote on-site. I did a seven?minute interview with him live from the exhibit hall.
The panoramic view of the official dedication was powerful and emotional. Maureen Bunyan, news anchor, WJLA TV-7, was the mistress of ceremonies. The United States Military Color Guard and Band presented the Colors. Speakers from the White House, the United States Congress, the Council of the District of Columbia, and the Office of the Mayor made presentations.
There were so many people at the site and the excitement was so high that we had to alter our plan for moving the dignitaries from the stage to the unveiling area. I had earlier ordered a royal blue cloth that covered the monument. Ed Hamilton, the sculptor, requested that we really drape the sculpture to present a compelling sight. Drummers were softly beating African drum rolls, as Nana Yaa Asantewa recited “The Spirit of Freedom” a story of the sculpture written by the artist, Ed Hamilton: “He shall cover thee with His feather, and under His wings shall thou trust.” Psalm 91. As the monument was being unveiled, TAPS was being played by a bugler from the Military District of Washington.
Many of the participants later told me that the presence and spirits of the ancestors were so powerful during the ceremony, they were unable to move. They were mesmerized, heeding messages of voices from the past. After the ceremonies, the line to view the monument continued for days and days.
I was awe struck ss I stood watching the crowds. It was difficult to comprehend what my eyes were seeing. This moment event will always remain alive and sheltered in a private chamber of my heart. May the story of the U.S. Colored Soldiers go down in the history books of schools, colleges and universities throughout America – They did their part to Save the Union.
After going “to the mountain top” my soul was restless. So, at the age of 47, I immersed myself in my courses at Trinity College to complete my first college degree. Three years later, I am pursuing my Masters Degree in Communication.
When I decided to open DESTINY’S DOOR, I now know that my decision was like “Alice” entering Wonderland; as one door opens another door is beckoning me to enter – and the fantasy never ends.