Home > News > 28-star flag flies at Mexican-American War monument

GALLATIN, TENNESSEE -- A decades-long project to restore and enhance a nationally significant monument to soldiers fallen in the 1846-1848 Mexican War has finally been completed.

The monument, a new historical marker at Main Street and Cemetery Avenue and a "wayside" interpretive educational sign, were dedicated yesterday in a mid-afternoon ceremony in the City Cemetery.

The monument has been at the site since 1848, but fell into disrepair over the years.

"This is a very historic and rare monument for the state of Tennessee and for the United States," said David Wright, a volunteer who’s worked for several years on the project.

The monument is thought to be the oldest one of its kind in the country, Wright said.

A second one was erected in Lawerenceburg, Tenn. about two years after the one in Gallatin's City Cemetery.

The 24-foot monument includes entirely legible inscriptions of names of the 55 Sumner County soldiers, most of whom were 18-26 when they volunteered to fight in the war.

Before the restoration the names, quotes and Latin inscriptions on the monument had become impossible to read.

"Fifty-five of them (soldiers) were wiped off the face of the earth in a two year time period," Wright said.

The wayside sign includes two rare daguerreotype photographs taken of two Sumner County residents who fought in the Mexican War -- Thomas and Lucas Collier.

"Mexican War sites in the U. S. are so rare," Wright said. "It's also exceedingly rare to have these kinds of photographs. The fact that they are from Sumner County is just remarkable."

Terry E. White of Gallatin was one of about 30 people at yesterday's ceremony. White recently learned that his great great great grandfather, Plesant Bell, is one of the Sumner County soldiers memorialized on the monument.

White said he was surprised, but very interested, to learn about his ancestor.

"I'll come back down here more now to see him," White said.

Tennessee State Historian and Gallatin resident Walter Durham gave a keynote speech yesterday and focused on the honor of the soldiers.

"We are forever in their debt," he said.

A 28-star American flag was raised at the dedication by Nick Mudd, 15, and John Suddarth, 17, of Boy Scout Troop 425.

The flag, which represents a version of the American flag after Texas became a state, will fly permanently at the site.

Funds for the restoration and signage projects came from the Tennessee State Historical Commission, The Sumner County Historical Society and Tennessee Wars Commission.

Prominent Texas billionaire Sam Wyly also contributed.

2006-03-13

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