This year is the 153rd anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address delivered at the dedication ceremony of Soldiers' National Cemetery. Remembrance Day is an annual event to reflect upon the Gettysburg battle, watch modern reenactors parade through Gettysburg and hear Lincoln's famous speech. While I have detailed the Iowa connection before in the 42N blog (post here), today's anniversary of the Lincoln speech (actually it was yesterday) served as a reminder to re-photograph the monument in the Lisbon, Iowa cemetery before the winter snows come.
I submitted a story idea to the Cedar Rapids Gazette some time ago for their Sunday column about area history. The reporter did a great job in crafting the story of how the boulder got from the battlefield to Lisbon, Iowa. It is only one of two boulders to have been removed from the Gettysburg battlefield for display purposes. Read the Gazette article here.
During World War II Orian G. Owens' B-17F was shot down over Holland on a return bombing raid to Germany on January 11, 1944. He and other crewmates parachuted out and were recovered by resistance fighters. In April German SS found the crew, interrogated the Americans and shot them in what is now known as the massacre of St. Remy. After the war, Orian's body was returned to his family for burial in the Lisbon Cemetery. Read my article about him here.
Last week's snow almost buried the headstone of a veteran of the Civil War and Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) member in a small cemetery south of Lisbon, Iowa. The GAR, a fraternal and political organization dissolved after the last living Civil War vet passed, however GAR is supported today by other groups dedicated to preserving the gravesites of Civil War veterans. This particular grave is located close to the authentic Gettysburg Battlefield boulder which was officially secured and transported to Lisbon's cemetery in 1916.
Its hard to believe that not everything in the world lies on the 42 North parallel. However within just a few degrees either way of the famous latitude there are actually more interesting people, things and places.
Located in nearby Lisbon, Iowa (41.92 N, 91.39 W) is something from half a country away. In 1916 the Womans Relief Corps obtained a large boulder from the Gettysburg, PA (39.83N, 77.23 W) battlefield and had it moved to eastern Iowa's Lisbon Cemetery. The apx. five foot tall boulder is sheltered from the elements and contains a bronze plaque. The battlefield remnant is made of the same rocky material as the current day stone walls found around the historic battlefield. At the base of this stone are bronze markers with the names of America's wars.
Just a few feet away is this concrete triangular base. I suspect it held 10 canon balls like those found at many military displays. Either that or its a buried golf ball from Dwight Eisenhower who maintained a house adjacent to the battlefield and was known to play much golf after serving as President. Know that.
