Soldiers Monument, Montgomery Pa

 

"Guard it carefully you sons and daughters of Veterans. It is a glorious legacy from your fathers and should live and be kept in good order after the memory of the last member of the Grand Army of the Republic is but a memento of the past"

In October 1892, The Grand Army Of The Republic Col. D.L. Montgomery Post No 264 presented the soldiers and sailors monument to the citizens of Montgomery, placing it in Fairview Cemetery. 

The 21 foot tall monument is made from 10 tons of George marble. The cannonball at the top, made of polished marble, weighs 300 pounds.

A 1/4 cannon ball sat on each side of the monument base, bearing the dates of the civil war, 1861-65.

On the front of the monument is etched ""Erected by Col. D.L. Montgomery Post 264 G.A.R."   The Col. D.L. Montgomery Post 264 Grand Army Of the Republic was first organized in 1882.

David L. Montgomery, the second son of Robert Montgomery, for whom the town is named,  was the first man from Lycoming County to see active duty during the civil war. 

Captured at Gettysburg, Col. Montgomery survived imprisonment.  Col. Montgomery died in an accidental discharge of his pistol,  in June of 1868,  He was brought home for burial in the family plot in Muncy, 3 months later.

The Lewisburg Chronicle reported "due to the rainy disagreeable weather, the unveiling of the soldiers monument at Montgomery was not very largely attended."  The Montgomery Mirror however, described large crowds turning out for the event, and a town that had been thoroughly decorated for the occasion.

The monument was unveiled on October 8th 1892, by 4 year old James Claghorn, a grandson of Col. Montgomery. Although the day of the dedication was rainy, groups from Watsontown, Milton, Selinsgrove, Catawissa, Berwick, Hughesville and Muncy all came to the ceremony. Muncy brought a Howitzer, which they fired off as other GAR groups arrived.

An extended deluge of rain made roads to the hilltop cemetery impassible.  The ceremony was moved to the H.P. Smith Planing mill.

In 1947 two bronze plaques were purchased and added to the monument, commemorating those who died in the Spanish American War, WW1 & WW2.

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Memorial Day Services At The Monument in Montgomery

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Soldiers Listed on the Monument

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WWII soldiers who died while serving:

Aaron Decker, 

Earl Smith, 

Howard Kahler,

 Eugene Betts,

 Harry Fox,

 Boyd Gruver,

 Schuyler Frey,

 Reynier Wertz, 

Fred Kennedy, 

Paul Shireman,

 Maurice Felix, 

Delmar Decker,

 Dunning Tupper

Spanish-American War soldiers who died while serving

 Ernest Shrey,

 James Fowler

Simon Felix

WWI soldiers who died while serving

Freeman Bower, 

Russel Shoemaker,

 Charles Mull, 

Judson Strong

, Lloyd Manley 

Raymond Bartlett

Montgomery Mirror, 1936

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More About The Monument

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The monument, May 2022

Monument unveiled October 8th 1892

Sketch from the Montgomery Mirror, 1892

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More About The Soldiers
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Ernest Shrey killed in battle in Philippines Dec 8 1900

October 1948, Decker Brothers 

D-Day Veteran Pvt Walter Bartlow of Montgomery received the silver star in 1945.

"A communications man, Private Bartlow evacuated a seriously wounded soldier and then returned to a dangerous area to repair damaged communication lines."

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The Miltonian, March 20 1919

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John Kennedy, who died in 1943, is not listed on the plaque.

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Lest We Forget
An Index Of Stories & Photos Of Those Who Didn't Make It Home
And A Closer Look At Some Of The Memorials Erected For them.
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/05/memorial-day-in-valley-through-decades.html