New Historical Marker in Honor of Soldier To Be Unveiled in Old Town Saturday

The City of Fairfax’s history community invites the public to join them as they unveil a new historic marker honoring Union General Michael Corcoran at a ceremony in Old Town Saturday.

The marker will be unveiled and dedicated at 11 a.m. this Saturday, Oct. 19 at the intersection of North and Main streets, adjacent to Truro Anglican Church, at 10520 Main St. A map pinpointing the site is included in the photo section of this article as a downloadable PDF document.

The marker will honor Corcoran, a Union general who died on Dec. 22, 1863 at the W.P. Gunnell House on the Truro grounds in Fairfax City.

Corcoran was heading all area Washington Defense Department Forces at the time of his death, according to the City of Fairfax. At the request of President Abraham Lincoln, he organized and led the Union’s "Irish Legion." He also commanded the “Fenian Brotherhood” of New York, pledged to Irish independence.

Participating in the ceremony will be:

• Honorable William Page Johnson II, Sesquicentennial Committee Co-Chair

• Rev. Coleman Tyler of the Truro Anglican Church

• Fairfax City Mayor Scott Silverthorne

• Members of the Fairfax City Council

• Consular Officer Claire Fitzgibbon, Embassy of Ireland

• Colorguard/Bagpipes playing "Forward the Colors"

• Cmdr. Keith Young of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War with the Pledge of Allegiance and "Retire the Colors"

• Colin Owens, Professor Emeritus of George Mason University, on the history of Union General Michael Corcoran

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