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Civil War veterans get new gravestones

Courtesy photo Volunteers who have been working to replace gravestones for Civil War veterans pause for a photo at Lakeview Cemetary in Escanaba. The graves of some Civil War veterans at the cemetary were unmarked or were marked with stones that were too weathered to be readable. Stones for three more unmarked graves are planned and the cemetary intends to have a dedication ceremony in the spring.

ESCANABA — A group of volunteers at Lakeview Cemetery in Escanaba has replaced the gravestones at three Civil War graves where the stones had either deteriorated beyond recognition or the graves had never been marked at all. Plans are underway to place gravestones at three additional unmarked graves of Civil War soldiers.

Volunteers involved in the project included Joe Durbin, a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War; Steve Larsen, Jim Johnson, and Neil Hivla, members of the Lakeview Board of Trustees; and Jacob Bernier, cemetery grounds manager and sexton.

The replacement markers were obtained following an application to the Department of Veterans Affairs filed by Jeanne Rose, president of the Lakeview Cemetery Association. Rose was concerned that these “honored dead” would be forgotten. The markers for Smith Babcock and Andrew P. Dodge had stood for a century or more, and weathering had obliterated the inscriptions on the upright, marble markers. Thomas Higgins’ grave was not marked at all.

“All that was required was to apply for a replacement stone, stating that the original marker was no longer legible,” said Rose.

The department then requested a photo of the original stone. Several months later, replacements were delivered at no cost to the cemetery.

“We thought that the ground would be frozen by now, but that wasn’t the case,” said Steve Larsen, cemetery board member, volunteer and handyman. “We dug a few inches through the top soil and were able to easily extract the original stone.”

But the work of honoring the forgotten heroes at Lakeview Cemetery isn’t over. Rose has the names of three more Civil War veterans who are in unmarked graves in the Civil War section of the cemetery — J.W. Work, James Pulley and Oscar Carlson.

The Delta County Genealogical Society was unable to find documentation of service for these three veterans when they researched Civil War burials in Delta County over 20 years ago. Rose estimates that researching their service could take a year or more since it has been over a century since they served their country.

In the meantime, each spring around Memorial Day the cemetery places specially marked flags on the graves of all of its 54 Civil War veterans, including the three unmarked graves. A self-guided walking tour pamphlet with a map and brief description of each veteran is available at the cemetery.

A dedication ceremony is planned for the spring with the cooperation of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and cemetery board members. For more information or to contact Lakeview Cemetery, call 906-786-7173.

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