Mosaic Templars Cultural Center Opens 'A Soldier’s Story' Exhibit Honoring Black Servicemen and Women
The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in Downtown Little Rock is opening a new exhibit titled 'A Soldier’s Story' on Veterans Day. This exhibit is dedicated to honoring Black servicemen and women throughout U.S. history, exploring their experiences fighting for both equality at home and freedom abroad. Museum Executive Director Key Fletcher notes that the exhibit begins with the Civil War, showcasing how Black soldiers fought for a nation that had not yet granted them full personhood. The exhibit continues through various conflicts, including World War I and II, highlighting the contributions of units like the Harlem Hellfighters, who were renowned for their battlefield tenacity despite facing discrimination and unequal treatment upon their return to the U.S. The exhibit is community-sourced, featuring artifacts lent by families of Arkansas veterans, including a bowl carried by Sgt. Ulysses Grant Baugh, Sr., during his imprisonment in a Korean POW camp.
