A forgotten veteran is resting a little easier in his grave thanks to American Legion Post 108.
Exactly who this soldier was and which war he served in remains a mystery, but his final resting place is now properly marked and adorned with the flag he fought for in life.
A few months ago, Jim Parkhurst, past commander of Post 108 and curator of the group’s war museum, was doing research when he stumbled across an unknown soldier buried in the older section of the Oxford Twp. Cemetery on the north side of W. Burdick Street.
‘We don’t know who he is,? he said. ‘We don’t know if he’s a Civil War veteran. Could be from the Spanish-American War. Could be from the Indian Wars. We don’t know.?
Parkhurst was searching through township grave records when he noticed one listed simply as ‘unknown soldier.? No other information was available.
‘That’s all we know,? he said. ‘As far as I know, the county doesn’t have any records on this guy.?
No headstone or marker of any kind was found at the unknown soldier’s grave site, so Post 108 decided to correct this oversight.
The Acheson family, who owns and operates the private Ridgelawn Cemetery, put Post 108 in touch with the Detroit-based J.E. Martenson & Company, which manufactures headstones. The company agreed to make one free of charge.
‘This guy never had a headstone and we thought it was something that should be taken care of,? Parkhurst said.
Now, the grave is marked for all to see with a granite headstone, bronze marker that reads ‘U.S. Veteran? and a small American flag.
On June 9, a small band of Post 108 members held a dedication ceremony at the grave site, which included a reading by Chaplain Ed Solon, 21-gun salute from the Honor Guard, the playing of ‘Taps? and the laying of a wreath.
‘There wasn’t a dry eye in the cemetery,? according to Donna Parkhurst, past president of Auxiliary Unit 108.