A multitude of Washington County residents, supporters and dignitaries braved the sweltering summer heat to bear witness to the long awaited unveiling of Plymouth’s Underground Railroad monument.

The unveiling comes as part of a busy year for the Town of Plymouth, which has made several strides to recognize and place historical monuments such as the Highway 64 marker to the Plymouth Massacre among others, to embrace the entirety of the town’s past and identity.

It was something that Plymouth Mayor Brian Roth made special note of, recalling the most recent addition of the Madison Street commemoration of the 35th United States Colored Infantry Regiment monument a month prior.

The large Sunday gathering included a whole host of speakers, including Congressman Don Davis and Washington County native son and activist, William J. Barber, who all spoke candidly about the historical significance of the monument and its place as the culmination of Plymouth’s storied and difficult history as part of the American Civil War.

Maritime Museum curator Mark Pardue attributed much of the monument’s Sunday dedication to author and President of Washington County’s Waterways Commission Willie Drye, who researched and submitted a 45-page application to the National Archives to give the project legs...