In 1869, General John A. Logan, then commander-in-chief of
the Grand Army of the Republic, announced that May 30 was being designated as
the day on which veterans’ graves should be beautified with flags and flowers. Before
that, those in both the North and the South decorated graves with flowers on
different early spring dates. A specific country-wide day came a year after
the first national observance at Arlington National Cemetery.
Veterans today are eligible for government supplied cemetery
headstones, markers, and medallions. The VA - Department of Veterans Affairs -
furnishes the above for any U.S. veteran in any cemetery around the world,
regardless of date of death. Additionally, a headstone or marker may be
provided for any vet dying after November 1, 1990, even if the grave is marked
with a private headstone. Medallions are provided for eligible veterans who
served on or after April 6, 1917, if the grave is marked with a privately
purchased headstone or marker.
Such markers were not always provided. An April 1879 Ahnapee
Record told readers that in 1873 Congress passed a law providing for
durable headstones on the graves of veterans buried in the national cemeteries,
and by then (1879) all graves were permanently marked. At the insistence of the
War Department, Congress authorized permanent headstones for the graves of all
Union soldiers wherever they were buried, in public or private cemeteries. Those
knowing of a veteran whose grave was unmarked was encouraged to contact the
Quartermaster General with such information as regiment, company, and date of
death if known. The Department also requested such information from those in
charge of cemeteries, however, said the Department, headstones would not be
furnished for the graves already having one erected by family or friends.
During March 1893, Kewaunee
Enterprise reported that the R.L. Wing Camp of the Sons of Veterans
received a shipment of headstones from the Army Quartermaster Department. As
soon as weather permitted, plans were to hold appropriate ceremonies when placing
the stones on the unmarked graves of Kewaunee County’s Union soldiers. Although
the County thought all graves were marked, in October 1895, Ahnapee Record
reported that County Clerk Mowry found 15 unmarked veterans’ burial sites. Headstones
were being furnished by the government.
Kewaunee County, which has always honored its veterans,
began planning in the 1890s for a soldiers' and sailors' monument to be located on the court house
lawn. As early as August 1898, the women of Kewaunee’s St. Anne’s Society held
a war song concert on John Wattawa’s lawn. White’s band came from Green Bay to accompany
about 50 trained voices singing patriotic songs. The concert was one of several
fundraising events where proceeds benefitted the monument fund.
A May 1899 Kewaunee Enterprise told readership the
county’s Memorial Day observance would
be most impressive because of the unveiling of the soldiers’ monument on a day that would be a
fitting tribute to the “departed dead.”
The massive, imposing, 25-ton monument was placed at the
southeast corner of the courthouse square. The 20’ statue was 8 feet square at
its base. The base, die and cap were made of Barre granite while the statue
itself – representing a soldier loading a gun – was made of Westerly granite.
The statue was purchased locally from Empey & Cameron in Algoma for a cost
of $1,475. Its inscription: “Erected to the memory of the soldiers and marines
of Kewaunee County, who fought for freedom in 1861-1865; Also to those who
fought for liberty of Cuba in 1898.” It was Louis Trottman who had the contract
for transferring the huge monument from the railroad cars. As the Enterprise
said, Trottman was an old hand and the move was made without a hitch.
A year earlier the war with Spain was being fought, making May
1899 the first time since the close of the Civil War that other soldiers and
sailors were honored. Far beyond Kewaunee County, the day was observed with
parades and ceremonies. Flag were lowered to half-mast at all military posts,
and every regimental band was ordered to play the dirge “Departed Days” after
the noon salute.
When the May 31, 1899, Algoma
Press reported on the event, it said that almost 3,000 people were in
Kewaunee to mark the dedication of the soldiers’ monument in the court house
square a day earlier.
At 10:00, little girls dressed in white, carrying flags and
flowers, headed a procession, followed by the Luxemburg band, school children
and members of the Posts who marched to the Catholic and private cemeteries where graves were decorated.
From there, they went to the
G.A.R. hall before the old soldiers marched to the residence of George Wing
where they were served dinner. At 12:30, another parade was formed at
the G.A.R. headquarters. Led by the martial music of Algoma and Luxemburg
bands, the veterans marched to the courthouse amid cheers and tears. The Enterprise
noted the martial steps of the disciplined soldiers – some bent with age
and infirmity - nearly 35 years after the war. Although most stood on the courthouse
grounds, veterans were given seating.
Dedication ceremonies included
a musical quartette, prayers by Rev. F.J. Eppling, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran
Church in Algoma, and a presentation by
Atty. John Wattawa. Rev. Eppling’s well-chosen prayers were especially poignant.
He served as a chaplain during the war. Those who were close enough to hear
Wattawa’s remarks listened with rapt attention.
At the conclusion of speeches, the boom of a canon signaled
the unveiling of the statue by Leona Read, daughter of the late John Read after
whom the Post was named. The crowd cheered as bells rang while bands played.
Judge Louis Bruemmer accepted the monument on behalf of the veterans with an
address that was called “appropriate, patriotic and touching.”
Albert Schmidt, a Manitowoc orator of exceptional skill,
delivered a speech citing memories and the day. The audience marked the end of
the remarkable tribute singing “America.”
Years later, the 67th
Congress passed a new Veterans’ Relief Act that said any veteran dying without
a sufficient estate large enough to cover transportation expenses within the
continental U.S., or for a funeral and
burial, the Veterans’ Bureau would pay for a flag to drape the casket
and burial expenses not to exceed $100. Following the funeral, the flag was to
be given to the next of kin. The provision extended to a larger class of
veterans than had been provided for earlier. The Act included those who served
in the Spanish War, the Philippine insurrection, and Boxer Rebellion. By then
the bills also covered neuro-psychiatric and tubercular ailments and lapsed insurance
of the mentally incompetent.
Algoma
Record Herald told readers in December 1945 that Kewaunee County Board minutes indicated
furnished government headstones would cost $30 each and that burial flags for
11 veterans had cost $5 each. When the county veterans’ service officer,
Frank A. Hanson, submitted his report to the county board on December 1, 1945,
he presented all service-connected reports for both World War l and World War
ll veterans. Included was the “Death Gratuity,” a cash payment equal to six
months of pay equal to the rate of pay at the time of the veteran’s death.
Hanson pointed out that about 2,000 of Kewaunee County’s
young people – to whom he referred to as returning boys and girls- served in World War ll. Up to December 1, 462
had been discharged with more returning daily. The county’s death loss was 38
on that date. Hanson mentioned the boys and girls several more times when he
said they appreciated the county’s assistance in advice and support in their
rehabilitation and readjustment, while also saying he knew he could count on
both the Board’s and the taxpayers’ cooperation in helping his office to remain
efficient.
Across Kewaunee County, U.S. flags denote each military
veteran’s grave on Memorial Day. Kewaunee County does not forget.
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