Page 4 - GC-Oktoberfest-24
P. 4

4 • The German Citizen • September-October 2024
                                        Every Grave has a Story


       by Daniel Schwarz           founded in 1859 by three German  of America, the Samuel Helm Unit  DIER, 1861-1865, June 5, 1910.
             hese stories are what  Protestant churches to share as a  144, was the grave of John  The G.A.R. is the acronym for
             makes cemeteries impor‐  common burial ground for their  McHugh. He died in Buffalo, NY at  Grand Army of the Republic which
       Ttant and depositories for  parishioners who were some of the  the age of 66, and was buried there  was a patriotic veterans organiza‐
     history. Each cemetery is like a  earliest German immigrants to  on June 5, 1910. His interesting and  tion of American Civil War Union
     book, with each headstone a new  Buffalo. It is still an active cemetery  historical story can be partially un‐  forces, where John McHugh began
     chapter. One such historic cemetery  for burials.            derstood by reading the inscriptions  his military service. Then the sec‐
     in Western New York is the Concor‐  One grave at the cemetery that  on his two gravestones. The original  ond flat grave marker that was
     dia Cemetery in the City of Buffalo,  piqued the interest of the local  upright headstone reads: G.A.R.,  placed more recently tells us more
     at 438 Walden Avenue. It was  Buffalo unit of the Steuben Society  JOHN McHUGH, UNION SOL‐  of his story. This marker reads,
                                                                                                 JOHN McHUGH, MEDAL OF
                                                                                                                     th
                                                                                                 HONOR, SGT. CO. A 5 US INF,
                                                                                                 INDIAN WARS, 1844-1910, AKA
                                                                                                 MICHAEL McHUGH.
                                                                                                   He was the recipient of the
                                                                                                 Medal of Honor for his “Gallantry
                                                                                                 in Action” as an army soldier in the
                                                                                                 period of the Indian wars at Cedar
                                                                                                 Creek, Montana Territory. The bat‐
                                                                                                 tle on October 21, 1876, where he
                                                                                                 demonstrated heroic actions was
                                                                                                 part of the Great Sioux War of 1876  Medal of Honor gravesite.
                                                                                                 and known as the Black Hills War.
                                                                                                 This and other battles and skir‐  workers to restore, preserve and
                                                                                                 mishes of the war were because of  protect the cemetery grounds; its
                                                                                                 settlers encroaching onto native  history and its records and to lay the
                                                                                                 American lands of the Lakota,  groundwork to ensure its appropri‐
                                                                                                 Sioux and the Cheyenne after gold  ate maintenance and perpetual
                                                                                                 had been discovered in the Black  preservation. For this reason, The
                                                                                                 Hills.                        Samuel Helm Unit 144 of Buffalo
                                                                                                   He was presented this medal on  took on the project to assist with the
                                                                                                 July 18,1877 at a parade at the can‐  maintenance of this significant his‐
                                                                                                 tonment at the Yellowstone and  toric grave of John McHugh.
                                                                                                 Tongue Rivers, Montana Territory  Already last summer of 2023,
                                                                                                 by General William T. Sherman.  three Samuel Helm Officers Paul F.
                                                                                                 During our history lessons in public  Jones, Erich Reidell, and Daniel
                                                                                                 school, we probably all heard of the  Schwarz felt honored to make im‐
                                                                                                 Battle of the Little Bighorn which  provements to the grave site, with
                                                                                                 was a part of this war. This Little  funds donated by Samuel Helm offi‐
                                                                                                 Bighorn battle was also referred to  cer Wayne Mertz who has many of
                                                                                                 as General Custer’s last stand,  his German relatives buried at Con‐
                                                                                                 where the US Army soldiers were  cordia. Then recently Erich Reidell
                                                                                                 decimated by the mounted Plains  and Daniel Schwarz again refreshed
                                                                                                 Indians.                      the grave with a new layer of dark
                                                                                                   The Indians were victorious at  mulch as can be seen in the photo of
                                                                                                 least for the short term. The war and  the grave site.
                                                                                                 battles ended with treaties and per‐  The Samuel Helm Unit officers
                                                                                                 manently establishing Indian reser‐  and members are pleased and very
                                                                                                 vations.                      honored to have helped to restore
                                                                                                   The historic Concordia Ceme‐  and enhance the grave of John
                                                                                                 tery Foundation, Inc. a non-profit  McHugh MoH recipient, that the
                                                                                                 organization, has adopted a mission  Concordia Cemetery can be proud
                                                                                                 using all volunteer officers and  to be its caretaker.
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9