40th ACCORD honors Civil Rights Act's 45th anniversary

40th ACCORD honors Civil Rights Act's 45th anniversary



Publication Date: 07/01/09

St. Augustine's 40th Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations Inc. -- the local civil rights commemorative organization -- joins the nation Thursday in honoring the 45th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. St. Augustine played a pivotal role in its passage and signing into law on July 2, 1964. That role is highly visible today thanks to the nonprofit known as 40th ACCORD and to Northrop Grumman Corp., St. Johns County's largest private employer.

They created The ACCORD Freedom Trail presented by Northrop Grumman Corp. With 21 markers already on the trail, 20 by Northrop Grumman and one by Beth Levenbach -- a 40th ACCORD member from Lansdowne, Pa. -- the next 10 are to be installed by September.

The trail was a longtime vision of David Nolan, St. Augustine historian, author and co-chair of the Freedom Trail. Some 30 years ago he began putting together the city's civil rights key sites through interviews with people who participated in the demonstrations here.

Who knew when Grumman arrived in St. Augustine more than 25 years ago to revive the area's aircraft manufacturing industry that the merged corporation of Northrop Grumman would be a leader in the preservation of civil rights history? The company has long been the standard bearer of business partnerships with St. Johns County's public schools.

In three years the Freedom Trail has leapt from documeted historical research, primarily by Nolan, to permanent markers. ACCORD presented the plan to Northrop Grumman, and Suzanne McQuiston, a company executive, took charge of the project. ACCORD President Gwendolyn Duncan says McQuiston is her "angel." Indeed she was. Northrop Grumman's committment is priceless to telling the civil rights story.

At last year's Freedom Trail luncheon, Rick Matthews, a Northrop Grumman vice president and St. Augustine plant manager, said, "It is an honor that we are able to support (Freedom Trail) more than just with our money, but with our heart and with our soul."

In the past year, as the national economy worsened and Northrop Grumman came close to losing a federal contract and more than 100 jobs in St. Augustine, the company stood fast in completing its commitment.

Duncan is hopeful that the Freedom Trail will expand through the generosity of other businesses and personal contributions.

St. Augustine's Civil Rights era was an ugly one for the entire community. Some on both sides still harbor resentment. We hope the ACCORD Freedom Trail presented by Northrop Grumman Corp. helps heal some of the bitterness as it recognizes the proud place St. Augustine has in the nation's civil rights history.

We share Duncan's belief that the community will follow Northrop Grumman's fine example by expanding the Freedom Trail.

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For information, go to http://accordfreedomtrail.org or e-mail contact@accordfreedomtrail.org.

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The 40th Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations Inc. (40th ACCORD) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 2003 and incorporated in 2004. The mission is "Remembering, recognizing, and honoring all those who risked their lives to attain civil rights for all and celebrating St. Augustine's pivotal role in the Civil Rights Act of 1964."

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