Today people walked from the Canal Museum in Roanoke Rapids to River Falls Park in Weldon to honor the Canal Trail's designation and the Weldon riverfront's designation on the Roanoke as part of the National Park Service's Network to Freedom.

The network recognizes routes utilized in the Underground Railroad as slaves sought to reunite with loved ones or start a new life.

The program featured speakers in Roanoke Rapids and Weldon and members of the Roanoke-Salem Missionary Baptist Church ensemble sang spirituals as participants hiked past the historic aqueduct in Weldon and on to River Falls Park where the second sign unveiling was held and United States Congressman G.K. Butterfield was a featured speaker.

Artist Napoleon Hill presented Butterfield an original piece of art and also gave one to the congressman to present to President Obama.