Saturday, March 16, 2013

Two Monitor Sailors Buried at Arlington

From the March 8, 2013 Boston (Mass) Herald by AP.

Two unknown Union sailors were buried Friday with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.  There was a gun salute and a band played "America the Beautiful."  These may be the last two Civil War sailors buried at Arlington.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus spoke at the proceedings.

The coffins were transported to the graves by two horse-drawn caissons; one with six white horses and the other with six black.  White-gloved sailors carried the caskets from the caissons.  Some of those in attendance wore Civil War uniforms and there were ladies dressed in Civil War-era dresses.

Eventually, a marker will be erected at the site honoring all sixteen Union sailors who died when the ship sank in 1862.

After 150 Years, A Well-Deserved Burial.  --Old B-R'er

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