Sheffield — An event titled “Saying Their Names: Berkshire County’s Black Patriots and the Legacy of Samuel Harrison and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment” celebrated the legacy of Black veterans on Tuesday, November 11. The event—co-sponsored by the Sheffield Historical Society, the Samuel Harrison Society, and Housatonic Heritage—was held at the Old Parish Church on Veterans Day, a federal holiday observed on November 11 to honor military veterans.
The event featured a panel discussion on the legacy of Black veterans throughout history, including those from Berkshire County. Frances Jones-Sneed, professor emeritus of history at Massachusetts College for Liberal Arts, led the panel discussion which included:
- Colonel Patricia Wright, a retired Army general who served for 31 years until she retired in 2019.
- Blayne Whitfield, the great-great-grandson of Reverend Samuel Harrison, who is on the Samuel Harrison Society’s Board of Trustees and is the vice president and treasurer of the society.
- Jocelyn Jones Arnold, a Philadelphia native who is the great-great-great-great-granddaughter to Revolutionary War hero Jethro Jones; and
- Joe Zellner, a Civil War reenactor who portrays Private Solomon Pierce of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, who were among the first Black soldiers to fight in the Civil War.
Wright, a native of Sheffield, was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal in 2019. “On Veterans Day, I reflect a lot about my colleagues and my peers,” she told The Berkshire Edge. “My family has a long history of service starting with the Civil War, and we are all very proud of our service and proud to be from Sheffield.”
Wright said that while serving in the military, community support was just as important for her as the support from her peers. “I have always been proud of my service, and I’m always proud of all of my colleagues and the people that I’ve served with,” she said. “But I always think about the people that have supported me throughout my career, including the vast community of supporters. We received care packages from everybody while we were serving, and I think that it is an important story to tell as well.”
Along with Jethro Jones, who served in the Revolutionary War, Jones Arnold said that at least five of her family’s direct ancestors served in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. “What goes through my mind on Veterans Day are the contributions of African Americans in this country, starting from the Revolutionary War,” she said. “I feel like I’m here representing the service of African Americans, starting with Jethro Jones and the Revolutionary War up to my father, who served in the Korean War. Yet, their service has been largely undertold and largely not celebrated. I think one of the most important things to think about, especially today on Veterans Day, is the contribution that Reverend Samuel Harrison made to ensuring that Black patriots of the Civil War received equal pay.”
Born in Philadelphia in 1818, Reverend Harrison moved to Pittsfield in 1850 to become the first pastor of the Second Congregational Church. In 1863, he became the first chaplain of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. He, along with other Black soldiers who served in the Civil War, were declined pay equal to the white soldiers they fought alongside.
Reverend Harrison led an effort, which included petitions to President Abraham Lincoln and Congress, for all Black soldiers to receive equal pay. This led Congress to pass legislation in July 1864 that granted Black soldiers equal pay and benefits.
Asked why the stories of Black soldiers and their contributions have been lacking from history books, Jones Arnold said, “I think that’s really a question for society to answer.” “In the Civil War, free African Americans enlisted in droves,” she said. “They all really wanted to prove that they were a part of this community and that they could be contributing members of our society. We still don’t get the respect for our service and our humanity, and that carries on today. This is why conversations like this [panel discussion] are so important to celebrate the unknown and unnamed people who helped to make this country what it is.”
Zellner said that reenactors and reenactment groups are important when it comes to keeping the stories of those who served alive. “It’s important for people to know what the individuals in our country have done,” he said. “I think each of us has a story going all the way back to 1619 when those first enslaved people were sold in Virginia. If we knew more about these people throughout history, I think we would be surprised and awed by their life stories.”
Zellner, a history activist, said he researched Private Pierce extensively before portraying him. “To me, each person has a story to tell,” he said. “On Veterans Day, I think about the Vietnam War-era men who enlisted that I went to school with, including the ones who had their life shortened by their service in the military. When I think of Veterans Day, I think about how important it is that we name each one of them, and for each of us to know each one of them, not just those who gave their lives, but also those who continue to serve.”
For more information about the Sheffield Historical Society, visit their website.
