Civil War Memorial in Historic Cemetery
Dirk Siedlecki’s First Civil War Memorial at the Jacksonville Historic Cemetery was appreciated by more than 100.
Sharon Becker, Tony Sepolpo & Joseph Jones dressed in period dress to add to the historic feel of the event. Bob Budesa played the bagpipes.
A dark period in America’s history began on April 12, 1861 when the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter, near Charleston, South Carolina. To honor the Civil War Veterans who are buried in Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery, the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery will present a very special one hour Memorial Service on April 12, 2011 at 10 a.m.
According to Dirk Siedlecki, FOJHC President, the commemorative event was inspired last year after he read an article about the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. “Last year, an article in the Oregonian talked about how cities around the country were having difficulty coming up with funding to help recognize and commemorate the war and honor its Veterans. I thought about all the Civil War Veterans that are resting in our cemetery and thought it would be nice to do something to honor them and their sacrifices.”
In addition to sharing Jacksonville’s historic cemetery with residents and visitors, FOJHC organizes the Cemetery Clean-up Days, sponsors educational programs, writes, applies for and obtains cemetery enhancement grants, and is leading the restoration and maintenance effort for historic headstones and gravesites.
For more information, please contact Dirk Siedlecki at 541-826-9939. Visit the FOJHC website at: www.friendsjvillecemetery.org for additional details about this and other cemetery educational events.