U.S.D. 1812, GSW1812 to conduct dedication
The United States Daughters of 1812, Arkansas Society, and the Arkansas General Society War of 1812 will conduct a dedication of 634 names of veterans of the War of 1812 added to the War of 1812 monument located on the Capitol grounds in Little Rock at 10 a.m. Oct. 22.
The public is welcome to attend.
The addition or modification of any monument on the Capitol grounds must be approved by Arkansas Capitol Arts and Grounds Committee and “strict guidelines are upheld,” a news release said. Committee and subcommittee meetings were held, with public hearings, to secure the necessary approval to add names of War of 1812 soldiers buried in Arkansas. Approval was received on Nov. 29, 2018.
The War of 1812 Memorial Fountain featured the names of 56 soldiers etched on the monument. Recent extensive research identified 634 additional soldiers who served in the war and are buried in Arkansas.
The names were added on two zinc plaques affixed to the monument. Funding for the plaques was provided by the National Society U.S.D. 1812.
Kay Tatum, president of the state society and chairman of the Arkansas U.S.D.1812 Capitol Fountain Modification Committee, said the monument was placed in 1917 by “Arkansas U.S.D. 1812 members who obtained the needed funding by planting, picking and selling cotton. In 1917 they didn’t have online databases such as Ancestry.com and Findagrave.com to verify someone’s service and place of death.”
Invited guests include national officers of U.S.D. 1812 and GSW 1812 as well as state dignitaries.