On Memorial Day, May 27, 2013, Yorktown, VA made history- local and national. Not only was an ancestral remembrance ceremony held at the beachfront, but the first historic marker related to the transatlantic human trade in the United States was unveiled.

This effort was the result of a united community that included: historical and religious organizations; members of the Chickahominy and Mattaponi tribes; municipal and county offices; Hampton University’s Howard Scripps School of Journalism and Communications; and the National Park Service’s National Colonial Park staff.

The video and photos reflect the culmination of  months of hard work and the dedication of many people in the York River District. The Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project is honored to have been a partner in this effort.