An estimated 50 to 75 people met in Manitowoc’s Evergreen Cemetery Saturday morning to honor those who served in the Civil War.
Roughly 125 gravesites were cleaned by volunteers including members of the Manitowoc County Civil War Roundtable and the Patriot Riders of American Wisconsin Chapter 2, as well as several families with children.
We spoke with one couple, Jackie and Kerry Drake, who just moved to the area within the past couple of months.
They were cleaning the gravesite of August Deuno, who was 16 when he enlisted.
“He became a Chief Engineer at Rahr,” Jackie explained.
Kerry also noted, “He joined as a very young man. He served and he came back safe, and then he wound up being very involved in the Fire Department. He was Chief of the Fire Department too. He served his whole life. He was a good servant, and that’s what we all should do.”
We asked the Drakes what drew them to the cemetery to help and they said it’s all about appreciating those who helped make and keep our country a free land.
Jackie told Seehafer News, “Anytime we see a veteran, he shakes his had and expresses his appreciation.”
Kerry also said, “I have always appreciated the fact that none of this is free. People pay the price for what we have here and I appreciate that very much.”
Kerry also noted that his son-in-law is currently enlisted in the Army National Guard as a Blackhawk pilot.
All 250+ Civil War gravesites have now been cleaned over the past three years, however, volunteers are invited to help do some touch-up work on Veterans Day.
The job is not over, as the organizers say they plan on going to other cemeteries in the county as well.
