"They
Did Not Want to Die Here"!
by Richard
Schimenti
"They
did not want to die here". These words were stated by Chaplin Jerry
Kowalski as the beginning of his eulogy to the 6,000 plus
Confederate soldiers buried in Oakwood Cemetery in downtown Chicago,
Illinois.
On Sunday, April 29th, 2007,
members of Sons of Confederate Veterans, Camp Douglas Memorial
#1507, The Ladies of the Order of Confederate Rose, Belle Boyd
Chapter I, the 26th North Carolina Infantry and the 2nd Kentucky
Cavalry, Co.D joined to pay tribute to the "Men of the South", who
sleep beneath the sod far from home.
Chaplin Kowalski spoke about
the suffering, illness, deprivation and torture that these poor men
endured. They did not have the honor to die in battle, but they are
heroes all, just the same.
As I took a walk around the
monument with over 4,000 names inscribed, I saw the maiden name of
my maternal grandmother. In fact, there were four men all with last
name Rose. I thought for a minute, but I knew that there were no
family ties on my behalf. Yet, I thought about the four men with the
same last name; a name that is not a common name. Perhaps, could
there have been four brothers who enlisted at the same time, were
assigned to the same company and all captured and sent to the same
prisoner of war camp, and if so, I could not imagine the pain and
suffering that the parents of these men must have undergone. Waiting
and watching four sons that would never feel their embrace or be
cheered by their smile.
As the memorial service
progressed, words, many kind words were spoken. Words about
patriotism, honor, loyalty and words of praise.
Soldiers came to attention,
presented their muskets, and fired a salute. Flowers were placed by
the Ladies of The O.C.R, and soil was placed from the Confederate
states and border states. And yet, it seemed to be not enough.
Yet, what more could we do?
What can you say to a deceased hero who believed in a cause so
strongly that he was willing to risk his life to support that cause,
and ultimately pay the supreme sacrifice.
I don't think that there is
any way that you can express what emotions we felt, nor do not
believe that there is anything that we can really say that will.
I truly believe the best that
we can say is "YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN"!
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