The G.A.R. Monument - Reading, PA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

One Sunday afternoon in 1885, Civil War veteran Henry S. Beckhardt decided to take a walk and his walk took him past a Potter's Field. He looked sorrowfully at the makeshift headstones for those who couldn't afford a decent burial and as he walked through the cemetery, he was stunned to discover that two of the graves belonged to men who had served in the war and had injuries from which they never recovered.

Beckhardt took action and approached his GAR (an organization of Civil War veterans) cronies with an idea that he had conceived. He wanted to secure a cemetery plot that would be used for the burial of Civil War veterans. The idea was approved! The GAR set to work and soon discovered that there were at least 15 other Civil War veterans buried in another Potter's field and 26 more in the pauper's section of Charles Evans Cemetery. The GAR team decided that they needed room for 200 graves.

The GAR approached Charles Evans Cemetery trustees and explained their idea. Again, the idea met with high approval and the cemetery agreed to dedicate 3000 square feet for the project. The trustees also agreed to erect a suitable granite monument and committed at least $2,000 towards the cost.

Now it was time for the GAR to come up with some funds and Beckhardt approached the public for assistance. The idea caught hold slowly but eventually, $4,000 was collected and the decision was made to expand upon the original monument idea.

The re-interrments were completed and on September 10, 1887, the 40 foot tall monument was unveiled. The figure of a bugler crowns the top of the monument signifying playing Taps for those buried beneath. The bugler is modeled after a local GAR member who had served as a bugler. Over 30,000 people, including veterans from far and wide, occupied the cemetery and others lined up outside the gates. That night was filled with reunions of old war buddies and joy at the monument used to honor others who served with them.

TITLE: The G.A.R. Monument, ARTIST(S): Henry S. Beckhardt, designer; P.F. Eisenbrown, Dennis McSherry and Eagle Granite Works, fabricators. DATE: 9/10/1887 MEDIUM: Figure: New Hampshire Blue Stone granite; Base: New Hampshire Blue Stone granite. CONTROL NUMBER: IAS PA001778 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Within the Charles Evans Cemetery, 1119 Centre Ave, Reading, PA 19601 DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: None

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