The Soldiers and Sailors
Monument, Syracuse
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument stands on a plot known as Masonic Park. The corner stone was laid in May 1909 at a ceremony witnessed by 50.000 people.
The bronze on the west side of the Monument depicting Sgt. Lilly of the 149th NY is called; "Mending the Flag" On Culp's Hill in the battle of Gettysburg the staff of the 149th NY's National colors was shot in two and Sergeant Lilly , while under fire from the enemy repaired the break. This actual flag is currently under going restoration after being neglected for many years. Sgt. Lilly's repair can still be seen.
The Bronze on the east face of the monument is called "The Call to Arms" and arrived just in time for the 1910 dedication.
March 21, 2001, the 12.000 pound bronze relief depicting the 149th NY and Sgt. Lilly is lowered to be sent to Maryland to be cleaned . While the monument and Clinton square itself undergoes improvements. Including a public skating rink. Conservation Solutions of Maryland will clean and restore the two statues, the 71 foot tall granite monument will undergo repairs. The monument's exterior masonry will be restored, repairing cracks and re-pointing , removing old mortar and replacing it with new, in the statues joints to water proof them. Small vent holes will be drilled in the top globe to induce air circulation and remove moisture. The steps that surround the monument will be numbered and removed and the four corner piers will be disassembled. Improved drainage will be installed before the plaza is reconstructed. There will be six flag poles, three flanking each side of the monument.
On Sunday September, 2nd a rededication ceremony will take place, area re-enactors will gather to recreate the 149th NY depicted on the monument. There will be a selection of music played from the original dedication program. A descendent of the vice president of the United States. whose predecessor attended the original ceremony in 1910 has been invited. Living History demonstrations will be held in Hanover Square, where the original 149th NY infantry set up a recruiting "shack" in 1862. Then there will be a march from Lafayette Park to Hanover Square to Clinton Square of the recreated 149th by the re-enactors. All central NY re-enactors are invited to don the ARMY BLUE and volunteer to honor the 149th in the parade. Those interested should contact Dan Houde, president of the recreated 149th NYSVI email at dahoude@earthlink.net or Bill O'Dea 315-446-7274
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9/2
Rededication Ceremony 12:00
p.m. Historical display City Hall Commons 12:30
p.m. Matinee at Landmark, possible “Glory” 3:00
p.m. Encampment/ Drill to open at Hanover Square 6:00
p.m. Concert Stage at Clinton Square (Parks lining-up performers) 7:30
p.m. Parade/Procession to begin from Lafayette Park 8:00
p.m. Presentation of colors by the inter-service honor guard.
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City
lot #3 (across from MacGregor’s) near the Erie Canal Museum on Erie Blvd. will be available for re-enactors parking
Erie
Canal Museum
From the North or South: I-81 to Exit 18 (East Adams);
West on Harrison to State St; North on State St to Erie Blvd; West on Erie Blvd.
From the East or West: 690 to I-81 South; South on I-81 to Exit 18 (East Adams);
West on Harrison to State St; North on State St to Erie Blvd; West on Erie Blvd.
Arrival/begin
set-up at 11:00 a.m. at Hanover Square.
Re-enactors require one small campfire be lit in Hanover Square, possible
to be placed within the confines of a wooden-framed sandbox. The 122nd NY will
set up a small encampment.
Will
include military drills, and living history portion.
Soldiers
will be fully packed after end of encampment and proceed to Clinton Square.
Parade
will stage either in, or adjacent to Fireman's Park
(Lafayette park) (bordered by Fayette, E. Genesee, State, and Townsend Sts.). It
will begin at the intersection of State and Washington Sts., proceed west along
Washington St., turn north on Salina St. and west again into Clinton Square..
CNY
Onondaga Historical Association to set-up historical exhibit in the Atrium with
US Postal Service to set-up “Rededication Station” and postal cache.
Onondaga
County Civil War Roundtable to set-up exhibit outside of the Atrium
The
Excelsior Cornet Band , a seven piece Brass will play in Hanover Square.
Dennis
Connor suggested a souvenir program or other document explaining the symbolism
of the monument’s features. He
has a copy of the program from the original dedication.
To be
requested from the 174th Fighter Wing of the New York Air National
Guard for a fly over.
Great-grandnephew of Vice President James Sherman has been invited to attend.
(Above) An early view of Hanover Square, the triangular park with Union corps badges depicted in flowers was known as Veterans Park
The soldiers and sailors monument under construction. On August 3,1908
a 7 x15 copper box was placed under a stone on the north pylon which states;"Beneath this stone are placed the names of 12,265 volunteers of Onondaga County, who served in the War of the Rebellion".
It also contained the following:
Post-standard,
April 29,May30,1909
Syracuse Journal,
April 21,1909
Syracuse Herald, April 11,
May 28,29,30,1909
Syracuse Weekly Journal Nov 1857
Coins, donated by
Nicholas Grumbach, Moses Rubin, John Hayden,
Willard Peck, Max H. Schwartz, Mrs. M. H. Schwartz.
History of the Monument
Photographs of the Monument Committee
And Association
Relics belonging to Jennie I. Korb, G.A.R. hat cord, badge
of her father, Nicholas Sherrer.
Autographed photograph of Theodore Roosevelt
Former City Operations director Joseph Nicoletti is pleased the bronze relief of the 149 NY is down safely
The 12,000 pound bronze relief was lowered to the ground gently by Conservation Solutions of Maryland and Valley Crane Rigging
