Once again, members of The 40th ACCORD, the St. Augustine organization dedicated to honoring the heroes and sheroes of the Civil Rights movement in their city, made an opportunity to do just that by working with the postmaster of the town to create a memorable occasion out of the issuance of the new Civil Rights stamps, August 31, 2005.
Leaders of ACCORD (Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations) approached Steve Kirkland, Postmaster of St. Augustine, to work together to have a celebration of the release of the ten stamps created to memorialize major events in the civil rights movement. The pane of stamps is titled "TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION", with the line below reading "Seeking Equal Rights for African Americans". ACCORD secured from Mr. Kirkland a special stamp to cancel the Civil Rights stamps purchased that day, and he gave the group the entire outer lobby in which to hold a special ceremony prior to the cancellations.
The special stamp read: 40th ACCORD Station-Honoring Civil Rights Heroes and Sheroes-St. Augustine, Florida, and in the date circle - Freedom Now, Aug 31 2005.
Hundreds of people - black and white - crowded the lobby to listen to the special ceremony during which many of the leaders - and those who marched beside them - of the civil rights activities of the 1960's were recognized. Among them in attendance were 3 of the 4 young teenagers who chose reform school over giving up their rights to protest, Samuel White, Audrey Nell Edwards-Hamilton, Joe Ann Anderson-Ulmer, with recognition of the 4th - the late Willie Carl Singleton.
Given special recognition in the ceremony were two of the leaders, the Reverend Dr. Thomas A. Wright and Dr. Robert Hayling. Stetson Kennedy, renowned for his exposure of the Ku Klux Klan , spoke of his pleasure to attend such a ceremony, and David Nolan, St. Augustine historian, gave an overview of the historical importance in the Civil Rights movement of what happened here in St. Augustine, leading to the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Elizabeth Teta, a student at Murray Middle School, presented Dr. Hayling with the Grand Prize Winning poster she created for a poster contest sponsored by the 40th ACCORD. Mr. Clyde Jenkins, who, along with Dr. Hayling, nearly lost his life at the hands of the Klan was recognized.
Representatives of national and state government officials, as well as local officials were all present to honor their fellow Americans who had done so much, at the risk of their lives and liberties, to make America a better place for all its citizens.
The ceremony ended with the joining of hands - black and white together - to sing "We Shall Overcome" led by "The Voice of Lincolnville", Mrs. Carrie Johnson.
After the ceremony, members of 40th ACCORD, under the direction of their president, Gwendolyn Duncan, cancelled stamps on envelopes and on the pages of a special packet of collages of pictures of people and events of the era in St. Augustine.
The money raised from the cancellations will be used to continue the recognition ceremonies that ACCORD regularly sponsors.
Copyright © 2005
Last Modified: September 17, 2005.
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