GAR Dedication Ceremony to Include Civil War Re-Enactors, Historic Canon Firing
On the morning of Sunday, August 16, 2015, a dedication ceremony will be held in honor of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), an organization formed by Civil War veterans.
The organization founded soldiers' rest homes, worked to improve pension legislation for veterans and paid for the burial of soldiers who had no one-or could not afford the cost of burial. Three soldiers from Palatine, including Louis Scharringhausen, Christian Herlahi and William Gothard, are buried in the plot where the dedication ceremony will be held.
The ceremony location is marked with a bench purchased by the Palatine Historical Society, and a bronze plaque commissioned by the Township that gives a brief history of the GAR.
"The Grand Army of the Republic was instrumental in serving and honoring our veterans after their years of service to our country," said Connie Rawa, a Palatine Township Cemetery Committee member. "This is a way to continue to highlight those sacrifices by people who lived and raised their families here and locally."
The ceremony will include Taylor's Battery Civil War re-enactors who will fire a historic cannon. Taylor's Battery consisted of more than 200 soldiers from the Chicagoland area who fought under Generals William T. Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant, and were recognized as one of the finest Civil War light artillery units.
The Palatine American Legion Post 690 will fire a 21-gun salute and local dignitaries will present short speeches.
"The Township and the Historical Society have once again partnered in an event that honors our past, for a group that gave so much to veterans," said Terry Kelly, the event organizer and Palatine Township Assessor.
Palatine Township owns and maintains five pioneer cemeteries, where many of the areas founders are buried.
The GAR dedication ceremony will be held on Sunday, August 16, beginning at 11 a.m. at Hillside Cemetery, located directly north of the intersection of Smith and Colfax streets in downtown Palatine.
Media Contact: Terry Kelly, email tkelly@palatinetownship.com or call 847-358-6164.
About Palatine Township:
Palatine Township provides numerous services and events for its 113,000 residents, and supports 26 social services agencies located within its boundaries. The Township is one of the most heavily populated in Illinois, with a goal to enhance and improve the quality of life for all of its residents.
Residents living in all or part of the following communities are part of Palatine Township: Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Inverness, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Barrington, South Barrington and Schaumburg. Visit www.PalatineTownship.com or call 847-358-6700.