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Civil War veteran to be honored

The Hawk Eye - 5/5/2017

May 05--KEOKUK -- Though the annual Civil War Re-enactment here was shuttered two years ago, one group wants to remind people not all local Civil War veterans are buried in the Keokuk National Cemetery.

Terry Altheide of the Lee County Veterans Project is organizing the 10th annual salute to Civil War Veterans, set for 1 p.m. Saturday in Oakland Cemetery. Each year, the salute honors a different Civil War veteran buried in the cemetery.

"My wife and I started this 10 years ago, and we used to have it during the re-enactment," Altheide said. "A lot of people believe all the veterans are buried in the national cemetery, but there's around 400 Civil War veterans buried in Oakland."

The ceremony used to be the same Sunday as services in the Keokuk National Cemetery, which was part of Keokuk's defunct Civil War re-enactment. The Oakland Cemetery ceremony wasn't an official part of the re-enactment, but it attracted many of the same people.

"We wanted to keep the tradition going," Altheide said.

This year's service will honor Enoch Hunter, who was chosen to represent the 367 veterans from the Civil War known to be buried in Oakland Cemetery.

Hunter was a bugler in the 3rd Iowa Cavalry who served from the war's start until it ended. He died in 1880 in Keokuk.

"He joined in 1861 at the start of the war, and he served for three years. He got out and re-enlisted in 1864," Altheide said.

Hunter's great-great grandson, David Hunter of Berkley, Mich., will attend and be presented with a flag. Hunter is a Civil War author, known for writing "Calvarymen of the Third Iowa." He will present a copy of the book to the Keokuk Public Library.

Also attending this year will be Bill Hall from Clinton, who will represent Bugles Across America when he plays Taps with Keokuk resident Riley Perry from American Legion Auxiliary Unit 41. Al Ourth from Burlington's Southeast Iowa Civil War Roundtable also will give remarks about the 3rd Iowa.

The honor guard will consist of members of the American Legion Post 41 and the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 41.

Refreshments will be served after the ceremony. There is no cost to attend.

For more information, contact Altheide at (319) 795-9512.

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(c)2017 The Hawk Eye (Burlington, Iowa)

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