Re-Activating the 54th Massachusetts

Once again, a hat tip to reader Todd Berkoff for bringing this nifty tidbit to my attention.

Most of you are familiar with the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a regiment of black men led by Boston Brahmin Robert Gould Shaw, which made the heroic but unsuccessful assault at Battery Wagner in Charleston harbor on July 18, 1863. The regiment included one of Frederick Douglass’s sons, as well as other prominent Boston freedmen. Their story was immortalized in the excellent 1989 film Glory, which netted Oscars for Denzel Washington (Best Supporting Actor) and two others.

The Massachusetts National Guard has announced that it is re-activating the 54th Massachusetts and making it an active unit once more. On November 21, 2008, a ceremony will be held in which the 54th Massachusetts will be restored to active service. Originally an infantry unit, the 54th will become the Massachusetts National Guard Ceremonial Unit (aka Honor Guard). The original flags of the 54th will be brought out for the reinstatement ceremony.

I can think of no better tribute to the men of the original 54th Massachusetts than reinstating their unit to active duty all these years later. Hopefully, the members of the new 54th Massachusetts will lave a mark on history as favorable as their famous forebears.