GAR statue stands upon a new pedastal at a new location GAR Post No. 579 Memorial
Sherwood Cemetery, US-127
Sherwood, Defiance County
"Dedicated July 4, 2007 to all veterans and their families
This memorial replaces this Civil War memorial which had erected and dedicated July 3, 1909. The statue is preserved from the Civil War memorial.
The inscription on the memorial read;
Memorial to the heroes of 1861-1865
Who gave their lives that our nation might live.
Erected by Hancock WRC No. 282
Hancock Post No. 579 GAR"
Moving GAR memorials from one downtown location to another isn't unusual, I've documented several during my travels. And, although rare, I have found that some times the pedastal of the original monument is replaced and in a least one case in Michigan the only surviving part is the brass plaque. It may be expedient for a village or small town to take this action, but I find it disturbing that we so willingly accept the practice. The original monuments not only commemorate the soldiers of that era, it stands as evidence that the community cared enough to establish a place of honor for its veterans.
It's very possible that important clues as to the political and practical nature of the original presenation are lost when these monuments are moved or altered. A bas relief of a furled flag or cocked rifle can indicate if the original designers felt the issues of the war were resolved. Snippets of prose and poetry germain to the era often allude to engagements fought by the local men... The flavor of the presentation is misplaced by these moves and often lost to the ages.
