About two dozen people, including several members of Boy Scout Troop 534, were present for the re-dedication of the Civil War monument in the Jefferson municipal cemetery Saturday morning.
The ceremony was one of five conducted by Company B, 10th Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, Sons Veteran Reserve last weekend. The group is the uniformed auxiliary of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. The group has taken part in 35 similar ceremonies during the five years of the Civil War sesquicentennial.
Other ceremonies performed last weekend were in Carroll, Guthrie, Audubon and Shelby counties. The Audubon County ceremony was a “Last Soldier” ceremony; the other four were re-dedications of monuments.
Jim Andrew of American Legion Post 11 gave a welcome and Legionnaire Barb Labate read the poem, “When the Boys in Blue Are Gone.”
The re-dedication ceremony, which is the original ceremony carried out by the Grand Army of the Republic for many monument dedications, was carried out by Capt. Mike Carr, Commanding Co. B, 10th Iowa, SVR, with 2nd Lt. Dennis Sasse acting as Officer of the Day. Mrs. Denise Sasse, the auxiliary’s chaplain, performed that function during the ceremony. Sgt. Dan Rittel acted as master of ceremonies. Several members of Auxiliary #23 were also present and assisted. Boy Scouts laid a rifle, a backpack, a rifle, a wreath and a rose at the monument as part of the ceremony.
Also present were Department Commander Danny Krock and wife Tammy, as well as Dept. Monuments Officer Tom Gaard.
Andrew noted that although in need of a good cleaning (something the local citizens are planning on doing), the monument was in good shape, and he said he had more of an appreciation for it now that he was made aware of its significance.
Valerie Ogren, president of the Greene County Genealogical Society, helped with arrangements.
Those who took part in the various re-dedication ceremonies from Co. B, 10th Iowa, SVR, in addition to those in Jefferson last Saturday, were Sgt. Alan Kirshen, Corporals Roy Linn and John Weeber, and Privates Charles Boeck, Dave Hancock, John Butcher and Jim Grettenberg. From Auxiliary #23 were Mary Rittel, Jeanie Kirshen, and Bev Carr.
