Allamakee County Civil War Monument rededication is part of "Thunder in the Park" weekend June 7-9

by Lissa Blake

A rededication of the Civil War monument next to the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon will help kick off the festivities during "Thunder in the Park," a civil war reenactment which will take place Friday through Sunday, June 7-9, in Waukon.
The rededication of the monument will take place Friday evening, June 7, following the weekend’s kick-off event at 6 p.m. that Friday: “Unconditional Surrender, An Evening with President Grant,” performed by Waukon native Peter Grady at the Main Feature Theatre in downtown Waukon. Tickets for Grady’s show can be purchased from the Main Feature or the Visitor Center in Waukon. Food and beverage will be available for purchase before and after the event, which is sponsored by Martin Funeral Home.

MONUMENT
Following Grady’s performance, participants are invited to proceed to the Allamakee County Courthouse for a rededication ceremony for the county’s Civil War Monument. Those attending are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to sit on during the ceremony.
The original purchase of the monument was described in an article from the Postville Herald, dated January 2, 1920:
“County Buys Soldiers Monument
The Soldiers Monument Commission of Allamakee County, appointed some years ago, and consisting of W.B. Cowan, Robt. Wampler and Judge H.E. Taylor, met with the Board of Supervisors yesterday afternoon and decided upon a monument for the Civil War veterans of this county. A contract was entered into by the Board with E. J. Roggensack of Lansing for its erection in the city park at Waukon. The monument will be of white Barre granite and its cost is $8,000. The base is 8 feet and four inches square and 16 inches thick, with a die 3 feet and six inches square upon which is mounted a soldier in the pose of “rest.” The height of the monument will be twenty feet and the total weight 70,000 pounds. G.A.R. and other emblems will adorn it, including the artillery on one side, the infantry on another and a large eagle. The inscription for the face of the monument has not been decided upon. If possible, its erection is to be completed in time to be dedicated next Decoration Day.”
According to event co-organizer Al Lyon, additional research is being done on the monument’s history.

CEREMONY
The rededication ceremony, which is expected to last about 30 minutes, will include a short introduction, invocation, reading of a list of names of those who died during the Civil War, a reading of a letter by “President Lincoln,” a short speech about where the men from Allamakee County fought, laying of the wreath, a rifle firing by the American Legion and Taps.
The Courthouse lawn will be ablaze with 192 luminaries representing Allamakee County soldiers. Twelve orange luminaries will represent the men who died in Andersonville Prison. The orange represents the red Georgia soil where the soldiers are buried.  

OTHER EVENTS
Saturday and Sunday, June 8-9 will be full of family-friendly events at Waukon City Park. Admission is free, with free-will donations accepted. Event times are Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
A full schedule of events will be available from The Standard special edition Wednesday, May 29. Programs will also be available at the City Park and online at the “Allamakee County Thunder in the Park” Facebook page and Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism website: allamakeecounty.com.
Volunteers are still needed to help with a variety of weekend activities. For more information, call the Waukon Visitors Center at 563-568-4110.