A Day of Celebration and Remembrance, Unveiling the Texas Historical Marker Honoring The Flats

The long-awaited morning began early, with the protective tarps covering the marker removed (it had been installed during the past few days) and the ceremonial covering then draped over it for the program that afternoon. The wood schoolhouse backdrop that had made its debut at Juneteenth 2025 on the big stage in downtown Garland for a previous "The Flats" musical scene re-enactment was assembled inside The Atrium and put in place.

Actors arrived for their big day and did a last-minute scene run-through, with a sound check and wireless mics in place. Soon a makeup and hairdresser assembly line began in the backstage dressing room, with hairdresser LaTrisa Edwards and makeup artists Irma Muniz and Cristobal Technico Colorista working wonders on the cast.

Minutes ticked away as the audience gathered on the other side of the curtain. Cassandra Lilly Cox who had been leading lady/narrator in the April 2024 production of "The Flats" musical drama, was backstage for the actors' call and led everyone in a prayer for the production.

Emcee Louis Moore stepped to the microphone and made introductions, including that of four members of the Dallas County Historical Commission that had set things in motion earlier for the marker to ultimately be approved by the Texas Historical Commission.

President Ricky McNeal of the Garland NAACP led the invocation, followed by Mayor Dylan Hedrick's welcome and introduction of the city council (seven members present plus two council members-elect). City manager Michael Betz was also present.

Then came the show, begun with "The Flats" piano overture and the re-enactment of the schoolroom scene inspired by stories about the long-ago Garland Colored School that once existed on The Atrium site. Lead actress was Debbie Scott

Carol Montgomery, dedicatee of "The Flats" musical drama, gave background on the marker itself and the process that went before the day's events. Councilmember Ed Moore before leading the invocation, reflected on his days of growing up in Dallas during segregation and on progress in that area. He gave a special acknowledgement to the day's coordinator/musical composer Kay Moore of Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street and then led the audience in singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" before adjourning everyone to the marker site. Ice cream cups awaited patrons as they exited The Atrium, a nod to a line in the performance about ice cream socials being a typical part of life in The Flats on Sunday afternoons.

At the marker site, Carol Montgomery led the two "Senior Saints", Curtis Clark and Lillie Scruggs Hopkins, who attended school in The Flats, to pull the ribbon tying on the decorative covering, revealing the marker. After the unveiling, photo ops reigned, with groups and individuals snapping their photos by the historic site that permanently marks what occurred on those Downtown Garland blocks and honoring the life that once was lived there.

The event was sponsored by Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street and funded in part by a grant from the Garland Cultural Arts Commission.