FORGOTTEN DOWNERS GROVE CIVIL WAR VETERANS TO BE RECOGNIZED

The Philip H. Sheridan Camp of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) in conjunction with the Oak Hill/Oak Crest Cemeteries Foundation will conduct a dedication ceremony for three new markers on the graves of Civil War veterans buried in Downers Grove’s historic Oak Hill Cemetery. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 1pm at the Cemetery located at the intersection of Howard Avenue and Glenview Street in the Village (east of Belmont Road and north of Maple Avenue). Parking is available at the adjacent Oak Crest Memorial Cemetery (off Elmore Avenue) or on the adjacent streets. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs for their comfort.

This is the capstone of a year-long project undertaken jointly by the Philip H. Sheridan Camp and the Oak Hill/Oak Crest Cemeteries Foundation with the support of Downers Grove Township. The project was designed to rigorously identify and document all Civil War veterans buried in the Cemetery, procure and install new grave markers on those graves needing them and straighten and clean the existing markers on the other Civil War veteran graves in the Cemetery.

Forty-six Civil War veterans are buried in Oak Hill and the adjacent Oak Crest memorial Cemeteries. Many of those soldiers served in units raised locally in DuPage County, including the 13th, 105th and 156th Illinois Infantries and the 8th Illinois Cavalry. Those receiving new markers include Jacob Escher (8th Illinois Cavalry), Judson Farrar (8th Illinois Cavalry and Herman Pilz (52nd Ohio Infantry). In addition to these Civil War veterans, the two cemeteries provide the final resting place for veterans of the War of 1812, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War. Oak Hill and Oak Crest Cemeteries also include the graves of many of the Village’s early pioneers, settlers and leaders.

During the dedication ceremony local historian and President of the Oak Hill/Oak Crest Cemeteries Foundation, Lois Sterba, will discuss Downers Grove’s experience in the Civil War and the experiences of the three veterans receiving new markers. Pastor Duk Kwon of Faith United Methodist Church in Downers Grove will provide the invocation and SUVCW National Chaplain Jerome Kowalski will provide an inspirational message. Frank Wurster, Downers Grove Township Supervisor, Patricia R. Bellock, Illinois State Representative, Harry Sawyer, Assistant Director, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and James Locke Lyon, Department Commander of the Illinois SUVCW will provide reflections on the event’s significance. Civil War re-enactors from the 8th Veteran Reserve Corps will join local Boy Scouts and Century VFW Post # 503 in the Color Guard. A rifle salute will be provided by the 8th Veteran Reserve Corps and the VFW. A period artillery salute will be provided by Mulligan's Battery.