Civil War veteran, MOH recipient's
grave marker restored, rededicated
Story by Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Photos courtesy of Columbus Art Memorial
The official party examines the restored monument for brevet Maj. Gen. Frederick Phisterer, a Civil War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, during a Nov. 11, 2016, ceremony at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio. Vandals had destroyed the marker and through a collective effort it was restored and rededicated on Veterans Day. |
ABOVE: The restored monument of brevet Maj. Gen. Frederick Phisterer, a Civil War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, after a collective effort to repair vandals’ damage of his grave marker in Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.
RIGHT: Destructed grave marker of Maj. Gen. Frederick Phisterer. |
Carmine Menduni (from left) of the Columbus Art Memorial, Randy Rogers of the Green Lawn Cemetery Association and U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers unveil the restored monument for brevet Maj. Gen. Frederick Phisterer, Nov. 11, 2016, at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio. Phisterer was a veteran of the Civil War, Medal of Honor recipient and the first adjutant general of the New York National Guard.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (11/11/16) — A rededication ceremony was held on Veterans Day at Green Lawn Cemetery to unveil a new grave marker for brevet Maj. Gen. Frederick Phisterer, a Medal of Honor recipient and the first adjutant general of the New York National Guard, who died in 1909.
Vandals had destroyed the previous marker, and retired Ohio National Guard member Jim Brandt worked with U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, of Ohio’s 15th Congressional District and a colonel in the Ohio Army National Guard, as well as the Green Lawn Cemetery Association, the Ohio History Connection and Phisterer’s family to restore the monument.
The rededication ceremony was performed by Col. Andrew Aquino, Ohio Army National Guard state chaplain.
Phisterer earned the Medal of Honor for actions on Dec. 31, 1862, in Stone River, Tennessee, when he was a first lieutenant in the 18th U.S. Infantry. His citation reads “Voluntarily conveyed, under a heavy fire, information to the commander of a battalion of regular troops by which the battalion was saved from capture or annihilation.” He was awarded the medal several years later, on Dec. 12, 1894. |
