Civil War Remembrance - Charlestown

On Saturday May 4th the 171 Charlestown men who died while serving in the Union Army during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865 were honored for their service to the nation. Local Veterans and family members gathered at the JW Conway Bunker Hill Post 26 of the American Legion.

They were joined by members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Department of Massachusetts (SUVCW). The Sons is an organization comprised of descendants of soldiers that served during the Civil War. Since 2006 they have been coming to Charlestown and working with local veterans on this event.

A memorial service was presented at the Legion Post wherein the necrology, the roll of Charlestown’s Civil War Dead, was read aloud. The 171 names, listed by year and the campaigns in which they served were read by the members of the Legion Post; Arthur Hurley, Cheryl Hodge Spencer and William Durrette. Each of these veterans had family that served the Union Army during the Civil War.

Past Commander of the SUVCW, Dexter Bishop directed the memorial services assisted by Al Smith. The memorial was opened by Paul Morceau, Post Adjutant with a salute to the flag, Pledge of Allegiance and the reading of Washington’s Prayer for the United States of America. Post Commander Richard Forrester, Joseph Zuffante of GAR Post 11 (Memorial Hall) and Representative Daniel Ryan were in attendance.

At the conclusion of the service there was a procession to the Training field and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial to lay a commemorative wreath. The Memorial was erected in 1872 to honor the Charlestown men who served in the “War of 1861”. (1872 was the year Charlestown was incorporated into the City of Boston.)

Dexter Bishop and Joseph Zuffante laid a wreath at the base of the memorial.

If you think you might have a Civil War ancestor you please contact the SUVCW at

suvmass.org suvcwclarioncall@gmail.com