Please join us as Sergeant Ben Hawley, Civil War Re-enactor with the 54^th Massachusetts and

Shirley Hayden of the National Park Service, Bladensburg National Historic Site  talk about the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation. Help us mark the 150^th anniversary of the document that freed the slaves. When the Army of the Potomac drove Lee’s invading army from Maryland after the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This document stated that all slaves in areas still in rebellion against the Union as of January 1, 1863 would henceforth be free. One immediate result of this document was that many slaves would flee their bondage in the South and in March of 1863, Massachusetts would form the 54^th Regiment to be commanded by Robert Shaw.  Because of the way the 54^th performed during the war, the Union was encouraged to raise more black regiments, and African Americans eagerly met this need to prove that they could and would fight for their liberty. Sergeant Hawley will discuss the military implications, while Ms. Hayden will address the civil population / non-combative aspects of the Emancipation Proclamation's impact.