Ana Edwards of the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality speaks at a freedom ceremony in Fulton earlier in the day on the restoration of freedom in Richmond. The program was held at Main and Nicholson streets, the location on state Route 5 where Union Maj. Gen. Gregory Weitzel and the Black Corps he led first entered Richmond in 1865 and began the march to secure the city and extinguish the fires that destroyed 40 blocks along the riverfront. Beside Ms. Edwards is a photo of the state historic marker that stood at the location. The actual marker remembering the Union Corps’ advance into the city has been removed after the marker was knocked down and damaged “beyond repair,” according to state and city officials.
