Macomb’s Military Heritage A Tour of Selected Gravesites at Oakwood Cemetery This Memorial Day tour of Macomb’s historic Oakwood Cemetery will focus on local military figures and the wars they fought in. Tour leader and local history expert John Hallwas will stop at the gravesites of individuals who served in a variety of international, national, and regional conflicts, including the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Cherokee Indian War, the Mormon War, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam War. As that suggests, Oakwood Cemetery is a remarkable heritage site for reflecting the American military experience. (The number of Civil War soldiers there alone exceeds 270, including a few Confederates.) The tour will include comments on soldiers who served in a variety of units (infantry, cavalry, navy, etc.). Many saw action, and some died in battle. As various gravestones also indicate, a number of our soldiers received a Purple Heart or other military honor.
This tour is sponsored by Friends of Oakwood Cemetery, the local organization committed to researching, promoting, and beautifying one of the outstanding historic sites in our region.
Date: Monday, May 26 Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m. & 1:00-2:30 p.m. Price: $10.00
Tickets may be purchased at the cemetery sexton’s office, on North Randolph Street, on the day of the tour. Proceeds from the sale of tickets will benefit the Friends of Oakwood Cemetery and Oakwood Cemetery, which the “friends group” supports and promotes. The tour requires significant walking, and the cemetery has many obstacles, so the tour participants are responsible for their own safety and are urged to be cautious. For information about historic Oakwood Cemetery, see http:// oakwoodcemetery.jimdo.com.