Marking Their Sacrifice: Headstones and History for USCT Veterans in Jacksonville, Florida

Authors

Christian Merkley, University of North FloridaFollow

Faculty Mentor

James Beasley, PhD

Faculty Mentor Department

Department of English

Associated Prize (or Other Information)

Library Research Prize and Graduate Poster at U-Glide Symposium

Abstract

This research project investigated the unmarked graves of United States Colored Troops (USCT) veterans buried in Jacksonville, Florida. Despite their critical role in securing Union victory and advancing Black freedom during the Civil War, these soldiers were often denied pensions and formal recognition, including headstones. In collaboration with the University of North Florida and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the project involved archival research, military record verification, and cemetery documentation to confirm the service and burial sites of sixteen USCT veterans. Using resources such as Fold3, Works Progress Administration (WPA) grave registries, and institutional archives, the project resulted in the approval of federal headstone applications by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This work represents a significant step toward honoring these soldiers’ legacies. It contributes to restorative justice and public memory by reclaiming marginalized histories and ensuring that Black Civil War veterans are remembered with dignity.

Recommended Citation

Merkley, Christian (2025) "Marking Their Sacrifice: Headstones and History for USCT Veterans in Jacksonville, Florida," PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas: Vol. 6: No. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/pandion_unf/vol6/iss1/2