Forgotten relics found after half a century receive due military honors

The long-forgotten remains of 28 American Civil War veterans, stored in simple copper and cardboard urns and marked only by their names, were recently rediscovered at a funeral home and cemetery in Seattle. After decades in obscurity, these relics were identified and honored, thanks to the efforts of the Missing in America Project (MIAP).

“It’s amazing that they were still there and we found them,” said Tom Keating of MIAP. Volunteers worked diligently, delving into historical records to confirm the deceased as Union soldiers and securing their right to a military burial.

A long-overdue tribute

In August, the soldiers were laid to rest with full military honors at Tahoma National Cemetery. The ceremony was a poignant event, complete with the 4th U.S. Infantry Regiment, dressed in authentic Union blue, firing muskets in tribute as “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” resonated through the air. Each soldier’s name was read aloud, their stories recounted, and the valor they exhibited remembered.

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Among these men was a soldier who survived a Confederate prison camp at Andersonville and others who bore battle scars from Gettysburg, Stones River, and the Atlanta campaign. One tale recounted a soldier whose life was saved by his pocket watch, which he cherished until his death. Another soldier had renounced the Confederate Army to join the Union.

MIAP’s mission of remembrance

The MIAP’s work underscores the deep respect communities have for those who served in conflicts past. As Keating noted, “It was something, just the finality of it all.” The organization, often unable to trace family members, takes on the responsibility of telling veterans’ stories and ensuring they receive the honor they deserve.

Past instances include a 2016 reburial of a veteran whose remains were transported from Oregon to Maine, escorted by a volunteer motorcycle group. In 2005, the remains of 21 Confederate soldiers were reinterred beneath a military college stadium in South Carolina.

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Keating highlighted that some of the discovered veterans will be buried at Washington State Veterans Cemetery, while a Navy veteran will be given a burial at sea. Others have been sent to Maine and Rhode Island, where surviving family links were identified.

The story of Byron Johnson

One of the honored soldiers was Byron Johnson of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Born in 1844, Johnson joined the Union Army at 18, serving as a hospital steward. After the war, he moved west, passing away in Seattle in 1913. His remains were transported to Pawtucket City Hall, where he received a military burial in his family’s plot at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien reflected on the significance of Johnson’s belated burial, stating, “When you have somebody who served in a war, but especially this war, we want to honor them.” He emphasized the importance of remembering the Civil War, which claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and reshaped the nation. “It was important to remind people not only in Pawtucket but the state of Rhode Island and nationwide that we have people who sacrificed their lives for us and for a lot of the freedoms we have,” Grebien said.

A community effort to preserve history

Bruce and Ben Frail, members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, played essential roles in Johnson’s reburial. Bruce, a past national commander-in-chief of the organization and MIAP state coordinator, remarked, “The feeling that you get when you honor somebody in that way, it’s indescribable.” His son Ben participated as a Union Army captain, reenacting the scene to bring history to life.

Amelia Boivin, a historian and constituent liaison from the Pawtucket mayor’s office, was instrumental in piecing together Johnson’s story. After receiving a notification to claim Johnson’s remains, Boivin researched his life, uncovering details of his upbringing, siblings, and postwar career as a druggist. “I felt like it was a resolution of sorts,” Boivin said. “It felt like we were doing right for someone who otherwise would have been lost to history.”

These reburials serve as a reminder that even those who have long been overlooked deserve recognition for their service and sacrifice.