During the past several weeks, this column has focused on the historic Midway Cemetery and the legends buried there. This week’s story is too.
But Halloween not only marks a time of ghost stories, trick-or-treating and jack o’lanterns. It also immediately proceeds the month of November — a time for remembering and honoring our military veterans.
Veterans Day is approaching and our military is still heavily embroiled in Iraq as the Fourth Brigade has just left for another tour.
Two of Liberty County’s most respected and prominent veterans are memorialized by the greatest monument in the Midway Cemetery. You have probably seen this great monument as you have traveled by the cemetery or in photos.
It is a beautiful structure in the center of the cemetery, shaped just like the famous Washington Monument in our nation’s capitol.
The monument in the Midway Cemetery was unveiled on April 26, 1915 by the Congress of the United States.
Gen. James Screven represented St. John’s Parish (Liberty County) in the Provincial Congress held in Savannah on July 4, 1775. After serving as captain of the St. John’s Rangers in the Revolutionary War, Screven was promoted to brigadier general via the state congress.
Screven died in battle during the war in November 1778, just south of the Midway Church. Screven has been the namesake of a well-known road in Hinesville, a county and a town.
Gen. Daniel Stewart was born in St. John’s Parish in December 1761 and joined the Army during the Revolutionary War at age 15. He was promoted to the rank of general during the Indian Wars that followed soon after the Revolutionary War.
After a great military career, Stewart began a life of politics in the Georgia Legislature. His life in the world of politics is not nearly as recognizable as that of his great-grandson though ... President Theodore Roosevelt.
In terms of modern military recognition, Stewart has been honored and memorialized by the home of the 3rd Infantry Division in the naming of Fort Stewart.
So, while it is always fun this time of year to get a little spooky and scared with stories from the ole cemetery, it is also a great time to remember our veterans who have died and served our country.
Stop by the Midway Cemetery sometime and see the great monument to General Screven and General Stewart. While you’re at it, if there is a small, local cemetery you know of that serves as the final resting place for a veteran, then stop sometime in November and pay your respects there too.
But Halloween not only marks a time of ghost stories, trick-or-treating and jack o’lanterns. It also immediately proceeds the month of November — a time for remembering and honoring our military veterans.
Veterans Day is approaching and our military is still heavily embroiled in Iraq as the Fourth Brigade has just left for another tour.
Two of Liberty County’s most respected and prominent veterans are memorialized by the greatest monument in the Midway Cemetery. You have probably seen this great monument as you have traveled by the cemetery or in photos.
It is a beautiful structure in the center of the cemetery, shaped just like the famous Washington Monument in our nation’s capitol.
The monument in the Midway Cemetery was unveiled on April 26, 1915 by the Congress of the United States.
Gen. James Screven represented St. John’s Parish (Liberty County) in the Provincial Congress held in Savannah on July 4, 1775. After serving as captain of the St. John’s Rangers in the Revolutionary War, Screven was promoted to brigadier general via the state congress.
Screven died in battle during the war in November 1778, just south of the Midway Church. Screven has been the namesake of a well-known road in Hinesville, a county and a town.
Gen. Daniel Stewart was born in St. John’s Parish in December 1761 and joined the Army during the Revolutionary War at age 15. He was promoted to the rank of general during the Indian Wars that followed soon after the Revolutionary War.
After a great military career, Stewart began a life of politics in the Georgia Legislature. His life in the world of politics is not nearly as recognizable as that of his great-grandson though ... President Theodore Roosevelt.
In terms of modern military recognition, Stewart has been honored and memorialized by the home of the 3rd Infantry Division in the naming of Fort Stewart.
So, while it is always fun this time of year to get a little spooky and scared with stories from the ole cemetery, it is also a great time to remember our veterans who have died and served our country.
Stop by the Midway Cemetery sometime and see the great monument to General Screven and General Stewart. While you’re at it, if there is a small, local cemetery you know of that serves as the final resting place for a veteran, then stop sometime in November and pay your respects there too.