Image courtesy of Vector Stock

"The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden. And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we—in a less final, less heroic way—be willing to give of ourselves."

-Ronald Reagan-

40th President of the United States

The Republican Party was founded before the American Civil War to counter the Democrats' demands to continue and expand Slavery in America. During the great conflict that followed over 600,000 troops lost their lives - as well as untold civilians. When southern black Americans were finally emancipated by the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln and given the right to vote, they registered and voted Republican - until the Democrats regained power in the South and took their rights away for decades.

The following story recalls how the black residents of Charleston gave a dignified burial to the Union Troops, honored their sacrifice and respected the memories of their fallen emancipators, years before Memorial Day was proclaimed. It was called Decoration Day, and those soldiers' remains were later moved to a national cemetery in Beaufort, S.C.  READ THE ARTICLE HERE>