Forgotten soldiers memorialized at Canonsburg cemetery
Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery in Canonsburg was the site of a “Forgotten Valor” ceremony Saturday honoring the legacy of 13 forgotten African-American Union Civil War soldiers with a memorial stone.
The soldiers are buried somewhere in the cemetery.
“Though their graves are unmarked, their courage is etched forever in the story of freedom,” said Rev. Marilyn Fisher, pastor of Payne Chapel AME Church. “They stood in defense of the Union, fought for liberty, and gave all in service to a cause greater than themselves.”
The stone bearing the names of the 13 soldiers was dedicated by the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War of Washington with an initiative led by member Fred Bender, along with Susan Bender and Hazel Murray, although two of the names are listed under the heading of “probable.”
There were a number of guest speakers at Saturday’s ceremony. Canonsburg Councilman Eric Chandler read the names that are inscribed on the memorial stone. Other speakers included Brother William Fischer, Jr., senior leader in the Pennsylvania Department Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War; Mayor David Rhome and David Gatling, president of the Washington Branch NAACP, as well as many AME dignitaries.
“Payne Chapel Cemetery has at least 30 Black Union soldiers buried in this cemetery,” Rhome said at the ceremony. “While most have headstones or markers, there are 13 unknown soldiers who do not. These were young Black men and women who were born free and who stepped up to the plate to fight for the United States in the Civil War. (This) is about honoring these fine soldiers so (they) may not be forgotten.”
There were Civil War musical selections presented by Greg Bender, and Mark Smith, CEO/founder of the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts, played the drums in tribute to the forgotten soldiers.