(NEXSTAR) - Louisiana provided over 24,000 soldiers of color to fight for the Union during the Civil War, more than any other state, and some of these veterans are still being honored today. The Laura Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana, is making a concerted effort to tell the stories of the enslaved people who lived and worked there, alongside the plantation's owners. The plantation was founded in 1805 and has a rich history, including its involvement in the Civil War when enslaved men joined the Union forces. "The men who were enslaved at Laura Plantation were forcibly held in bondage," said Katy Shannon, historian at Laura Plantation. "By enlisting, by voluntarily choosing to serve their country, they were showing that they, too, were citizens of this nation." During the Civil War, New Orleans was occupied by the Union in 1862, and the Native Guard, a militia of free men of color, offered their services to the Union forces. This group took on the challenge of fighting guerrilla Confederate operations in the area. Edward Gros, a Creole man from Laura Plantation, was one of the men who enlisted in the 3rd Louisiana Native Guard. His story is told daily at Laura Plantation, where he is remembered as a brick mason who was born and baptized there, speaking French and practicing Catholicism. In collaboration with the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum in Washington, Gros and other men from the 75th US Colored Infantry were honored at Laura Plantation on Veterans Day. The ongoing efforts at Laura Plantation to honor these soldiers highlight the significant contributions of African American soldiers during the Civil War and ensure their stories are remembered. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published