There was a solemn ceremony on the grounds of Lakeview Cemetery in Patchogue last week honoring three Civil War veterans whose headstones had gone missing or were in disrepair.
The replacement stones were decorated in ceremony on Friday, the day before Veterans Day.
“I think that the soldiers we are honoring today are looking down above us and smiling, because they are buried within stone’s throw of a slave that they fought so hard to free,” said Lynn Davis of the cemetery restoration committee. “And only in a place like Patchogue can you have the amount of Civil War veterans we have buried here in the same location as a slave. It’s an amazing thing.”
Two of the headstones had been missing and were replaced, and a third was in poor condition and was also replaced. The project was helped along by the restoration committee, which is part of the chamber’s nonprofit Greater Patchogue Foundation, as well as local veterans groups.
The stones came free from the Veterans Administration and the work to install them was done by Tom Frick of Alan Fricke Memorials.
The work was paid for using a grant secured through county Legislator Rob Calarco’s office.
The graves were adorned Friday by members of the newly reformed Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Richard J Clark Camp 210, which is also leading efforts to save the Civil War statue that stands outside the American Legion Post 269 in Patchogue.
ABOUT THE SOLDIERS
Abraham Banker
5th Regiment; 5th NY Infantry
Regiment enlisted 7/20/1861 at NYC; mustered in as Private Co. D, July 29, 1861 to serve 3 years, wounded June, 27, 1862, at Gaines Mills, Va; at Bull Run, Va., on Aug. 30, 1862. Discharged Nov. 8, 1862, at Armory Square Hospital, Washington D.C. for wounds; also served Co. G 29 PA Infantry
David Mott
• 30 years of age at time of enlistment
• Enlisted on Sept 8, 1862, at Brookhaven, N.Y. as Private
Mustering information:
– Enlisted into F Company, 159th Infantry (New York) on Nov. 1, 1862
– Discharged due to disability from 159th Infantry (New York) on May 24, 1863
Addison Day Hawkings
Son of Samuel C. Hawkins and Julia Ann Day, husband of Sarah Catherine Newins and father of Daniel Newins; In June, 1863, Addison Hawkins, aged 24, of Patchogue, single, was shown to be a printer, when he registered for military service during the Civil War. He served as a Sergeant with the Union Army, 15th Regiment, New York Infantry, National Guard in 1864.
From the Cemetery Restoration Committee. Photos below by Michael White.
