VETERANS DAY 2025

LAURA PLANTATION VETERANS DAY EVENT 2025

In unison with the African-American Civil War Memorial and Museum in Washington, DC, Laura Plantation will honor the veterans of the 75th United States Colored Infantry regiment at a special event at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

Louisiana contributed more Black soldiers to fight for freedom than any other state in the nation. These include nine (9) enslaved men from Laura Plantation who fought in the U.S. Army during the Civil War.

For more than a decade, Laura Plantation's tour has featured the story of Edward Gros, a veteran of the 75th United States Colored Infantry, and research continues into the lives of USCI veterans from Laura Plantation.

The 75th USCI began as the Third Louisiana Native Guard, which was formed in New Orleans in 1862 and was made up of free men of color and enslaved men seeking freedom. These were among the first Black soldiers to join the United States military during the Civil War and the first to see action on the battlefield during the Siege of Port Hudson.

Laura Plantation is committed to highlighting the contributions of Black veterans, their widows, and descendants to St. James Parish, Louisiana, and the nation, and ensuring that their legacies are brought to the forefront of the historical narrative.

The Veterans Day ceremony at Laura Plantation will include a Reading of the Names of the soldiers of the 75th USCI and the unveiling of a plaque in honor of the men from Laura Plantation who served.

Check this page often for updates to the program.

Media inquiries should be addressed to Joseph Dunn at [email protected]