By Bob Peryea
Correspondent
Springfield Union Cemetery was the scene of living history on Saturday as the Walworth County Genealogical Society and the Springfield Cemetery Association teamed up to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
Deb Ketchum, president of the society, said the group does a cemetery walk each year.
In past years, it was to highlight a family or a famous person, but this year’s event highlighted several veterans of the Civil War and one from the War of 1812, who are buried in the Springfield Union Cemetery, which is a few miles west of Burlington near the crossroads of highways 36 and 120.
Civil War re-enactor Mike Ferenz, of South Milwaukee, who came in full Union soldier garb said commemorating the Civil War is very important. “It was the largest loss of American lives of any war and it held the Union together as we know it today,” he said.
Pat Blackmer, who is the genealogical society’s historian portrayed Hannah Weeks, who lived during the period and is buried in the cemetery.
Playing the role and hosting the event is important, Blackmer said, to “honor and remember their fight for your freedom and mine.”
She is one of the founding members of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War in Delavan.
The group chartered a chapter in Delavan on May 19. The new chapter already has 29 members showing the ongoing interest in the Civil War and its history.
Mary Summers, whose ancestors are buried at the cemetery, came from Lake Bluff, Ill., to tell the story of her great-grandfather.
Charles Harms fought with the 20th Wisconsin Infantry the entire time of the war and lost a finger in battle.
The genealogical society will begin planning next year’s walk in the near future.
The society meets the first Tuesday of every month at the Community Bank Centre in Delavan at 6:30 p.m.
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