A ceremony will be held this Sunday (5/18) at 1 PM to celebrate Newton’s veterans past and present and to rededicate the newly restored Civil War Soldiers Monument at the entrance of Newton Cemetery, The ceremony will be followed by the Memorial Parade on Walnut St in Newtonville and Watertown Street in Nonantum.
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I hope a lot of people will attend this “rededication” ceremony.
@Bob, I’ll be there with a number of my colleagues. Recently, I was treated to a private tour with Historic Planner Katie Holmes, CPA Coordinator Alice Ingerson and a small group of Newton residents and city officials. This was a historic preservation project funded in large part by the Community Preservation Act funds approved by the BOA. It is, I think, the second oldest such memorial in the country and historic in its own right, paid for with dimes from over 1000 students in the Newton schools. And for many years, it was in a sad state of disrepair and had to be taken apart to save it. What was a mark of shame is now a source of pride again. This will be the 150th anniversary of its original dedication, and I too hope many Newton residents will come and share in the moment.
I’m particularly pleased that the 54th Regiment Re-Enactors will participate in both the re-dedication and the parade and that the film “Glory” depicting the story of the orginal 54th in the Civil War will be presented at the Library at 2:oo on Saturday afternoon. I feel a very personal debt of gratitude to the 54th. My Great Grandfather’s Regiment fought in the battle of Fort Wagner in support of the charge of the 54th, which is depicted with harrowing accuracy in “Glory”. The 54th covered the Union retreat in the battle of Olustee, Florida. They likely prevented my wounded great grandfather from being captured and almost certainly dying in the notorious Confederate prison Andersonville. I hope the descendant of Sergeant William Carney, the Congressional Medal of Honor winner for his role in the 54th’ s attack on Fort Wagner, will be present on Sunday so I can again thank him for his grandfather’s heroism.
Alderman Brian Yates
Member, Newton Civil War Soldiers Monument Rededication Committee
Jerry – thank you for this post reminding people about this event. I am very much looking forward to it, and to the Memorial Day parade. Millions suffered and died so that our country could survive and thrive, that is what Memorial Day is really about, as much as we all enjoy a Memorial Day weekend BBQ.
@Ted and Brian. Thanks for these fascinating historical and personal accounts.