Southern Graves

Here are the most popular posts from the last thirty days. - Sacred to the Memory of Mr. Jared Bates (Today's Epitaph) - Pvt. Henry Chaple Survived Andersonville - Mrs. Hannah E. Howard (Tombstone Tuesday) - John Buckley & the Congressional Medal of Honor (Tombstone Tuesday) - New "Featured Articles" Page - Here Lieth Mary, Never was Contrary... (Today's Epitaph) - The Forgotten Ones - Sunday Slideshow -- Centerville Cemetery in the Snow (A Valentine's Day Gift for Me & You) - Is that a Pillow Carved on Top of Bernice's Tombstone? - A 60 Year Search Results in a Heart-Breaking Find

Sergt. John C. Buckley was born 1 April 1842 in Fayette County, West Virginia. He served during the Civil War in Company G, West Virginia Infantry. John died 29 March 1913 and was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery at Fitzgerald, Georgia. John C. Buckley was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for "Gallantry in the charge of the 'volunteer storming party'" at the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi on 22 May 1863. The Medal of Honor dates back to 1861, and you may read about its history here . The version of the medal on John's grave is a hybrid of the original and later versions. The inverted, 5-pointed star contains laurel leaves mixed with oak clusters. This represents victory and strength. Surrounding the circled insignia were once 34 stars, equal to the number of stars on the U.S. flag in 1862. Now, "United States of America" is found there. In the center of the circle is a portrait of a helmeted "Goddess of War." Actions w...