Cashmere Civil War veteran grave memorial dedication
Linda Ingraham, Pres. Cashmere American Legion Auxiliary #64
Nov. 02, 2011
Photo by Mike Bonnicksen
The Washington Civil War Association reenactors of North Central Washington will be in their civil war uniforms when they provide the honor guard for the memorial dedication.
Eighty-nine years after PVT. Leonard G. West was laid to rest in the Cashmere Cemetery, he finally has a military grave marker. Cashmere resident Fred Pflugrath, a member of the Wenatchee Area Genealogy Society, finds unmarked Civil War veteran’s graves and orders a new gravestone from the Veterans Administration. There will be memorial dedication for PVT. West on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Cashmere Cemetery at 1:00 pm.
Rev. Charles Clark of the Cashmere Presbyterian Church will read the original obituary taken from the Cashmere Valley Record in 1922 and say a prayer. The minister who performed the original service was also Presbyterian.
The honor guard will be conducted by the Washington Civil War Association reenactors of North Central Washington. In their civil war uniforms, organized by Mark Burnett of Cashmere, they will fire 3 volleys followed by taps played by a Cashmere High School student.
Cashmere American Legion Post #64 will also assist as they did in the original service 89 years ago.
PVT. Leonard G. West was born July 22, 1845 and passed away at Orting Soldiers Home July 30, 1922 after going there a year earlier. The remains were laid to rest in the Cashmere Cemetery beside those of his wife who passed away in 1915. Services were held in the Cashmere Undertaking Parlor with the local I.O.O.F. in charge and the local American Legion firing the volleys.
The public is invited to participate with this Civil War Veterans service.
Contact Linda Ingraham, Cashmere American Legion Aux. #64 President for information at 679-0243.
