Civil War-Themed Tour of Woodland Cemetery May 28

[Pat]

 

A reminder about the Memorial Day tour at Woodland Cemetery. 

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: "Des Moines Historical Society" <in...@desmoineshistoricalsociety.org>
To:
Subject: Civil War-Themed Tour of Woodland Cemetery May 28
Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 07:26:01 -0700

Find more information about DMHS and view tour video at www.desmoineshistoricalsociety.org 

COMMEMORATE MEMORIAL DAY WITH A CIVIL WAR-THEMED TOUR OF WOODLAND CEMETERY

 

In observance of Memorial Day, Des Moines Park and Recreation, the Des Moines Historical Society, and the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War will host a Civil War-themed tour of Woodland Cemetery Monday, May 28, 2012, from 2 - 4 p.m. The entrance to Woodland Cemetery is located at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Woodland Avenue in Des Moines.

 

There will be six different stations where visitors can learn about:

• Notable Civil War Generals Crocker and Tuttle and Major Sherman
• The first declared female veteran of the Civil War Nurse Aunt Becky
• "Generals' Hill" and Adjutant General Nathaniel Baker
• The City Receiving Vault
• The two G.A.R. sections

 

The 12-15 minute presentations are open to the public at no charge.  The presentation will occur on the hour and at 20 and 40 minutes past the hour (3 times per hour) and then you may move to the next station. Participants are asked to park along side streets outside the cemetery and walk for the tour because the roads are small and congested. Please try to arrive early. We will ask the guests to begin from various stations also help keep things moving along. We could still use some volunteers to help out.

 

 

Speaking at one of the G.A.R. sections will be Mike Rowley, who received the Volunteer of the Year Award last November for his work compiling information about Civil War veterans buried at Woodland. Also speaking will be David Lamb (SUVCW - the Governor's Own Iowa Rifles) at the other G.A.R. section, and Tammie Krock at Aunt Becky's grave site along with her husband, 2/Lt. Danny Krock. Pat Meiners will speak in the area where Generals Crocker and Tuttle and Major Sherman are buried, Rick Meiners will talk at the site of General Nathaniel Bakers grave on General's Hill, and Archie Cook (history teach at North High) will be at the City Receiving Vault. There will be other historians about and armed guards at the front gates in Civil War uniforms.

 

There are 412 known graves of Civil War veterans in Des Moines' cemeteries - 328 at Woodland Cemetery, three of which are Confederate and the remaining Union, and 84 Union graves at Glendale Cemetery. 

 

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About Des Moines Park and Recreation

Founded in 1892, the Park and Recreation department's mission is "Helping Des Moines Live Well, Play Hard and Protect the Earth."  Our department is responsible for the management of 76 parks, 3,875 acres of parkland, 42 miles of trails, seven cemeteries and numerous municipal facilities. www.dmparks.org 

 

About the Des Moines Historical Society

The Des Moines Historical Society works to promote the preservation and study of the history and heritage of Des Moines, Iowa. To this goal, we work to engage the community in Des Moines' rich history by holding special events, research assistance and quarterly meetings with relevant topics. www.desmoineshistoricalsociety.org

 

About the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War - Department of Iowa

The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a veteran's organization from the Civil War that was founded in 1866. Starting in 1881, many GAR Posts sponsored Sons of Veterans Camps so their sons and grandsons could carry on the GAR's traditions and memory; and in 1925 the name was changed to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. The organization works to honor veterans, preserve the heritage and history of the GAR and promote patriotic education. http://www.suvcw.org/iowa/Iowa.htm