News : Civil War statue rededication to include elements of 1912 ceremony

The Civil War statue at Evergreen Cemetery will be rededicated Oct. 27.

Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton will rededicate the Civil War statue located on the east side of the cemetery on October 27, 2012. The statue, originally dedicated on October 27, 1912, was placed to commemorate the veterans of the Civil War who had been laid to rest in the cemetery. The rededication ceremony will honor them as well as the other servicemen and women laid to rest in the cemetery.

The rededication, taking place 100 years to the day after the original one, will include elements of the 1912 ceremony as well as a few modern ones. Songs performed in 1912 included Nearer My God To Thee, America, and BattleHymn of the Republic. These songs will be included in the rededication. Mark Mossman, local attorney, will deliver a speech as did his ancestor Hugh Mossman in 1912. Members of the Sons of Union Veterans will be on hand to perform the rededication ceremony, in the spirit of the original members of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Women’s Relief Corps who commissioned and dedicated the statue in 1912. Local veteran’s organizations will be on-hand for the ceremony. Historical interpreters, representing Iowa soldiers from 1861-1865, will be present as well. Other performances and speakers will also be present.

In case of poor weather, the ceremony will still happen but may be shortened.

The ceremony will begin at 1pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012. If there are questions please contact Alex Vasquez at alexander.vasquez@vscsd.org