NEWS

Frankfort Civil War monument repair continues

Gazette staff

FRANKFORT – The continued repair and restoration of the oldest Civil War monument in Ross County will be spotlighted at a memorial service Saturday.

The monument, located in the lone cemetery in Frankfort, at Walnut and Anderson avenues, will be the site of the 9 a.m. Saturday service and will feature the cleaned, reset and etched stones of three African-American soldiers who died during the Civil War.

It’s the third consecutive year for the service.

Last year, the Frankfort Area Historical Society had the 15 stones — each featuring the names of soldiers ages 17 to 24 who died in the war — surrounding the monument cleaned and reset. Most died in action or later from injuries at the Battle of Stone River. One died from disease while being held as a prisoner of war at Andersonville

Last year, the memorial, which is open to the public, had more than 100 people attend.

Maggie Ackley, who co-chairs the historical society with Gwen Harper, said soldiers buried in the Old Methodist Cemetery include one from the Revolutionary War, two from the War of 1812, and 22 from the Civil War.

The Enderlin Camp No. 73 of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War will attend to each grave and musicians and historians will play and speak. When work is complete at the Old Methodist Cemetery, members plan to attend to other cemeteries in the area.

If you go

What: July 4 memorial

When: 9 a.m. Saturday

Where: Old Methodist Cemetery, Anderson Avenue at Walnut Street, Frankfort

FYI: Musician and historian Steve Ball will perform, and a 21-gun salute will be fired by American Legion Post 483. The National Anthem and Taps will be played by Daniel Waugh, and the Waugh family will present a Civil War encampment.