Pictured is a scene from the 2023 event in Whitesville
From Jan Talbott, event volunteer
The Whitesville Rural Cemetery will be once again participating in National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday Dec. 13th. This is a day to honor our deceased veterans by laying a wreath on each veteran’s grave and saying their name. It is said that as long as someone speaks your name, you are truly never forgotten.
We not only honor the veteran’s from the Whitesville Cemetery, but all cemeteries in the Town of Independence. These include, Independence, Spring Mills, Fulmer Valley, Pioneer, Hillside and State Line cemeteries.
Josh Mullen will once again conduct the ceremony starting @ noon. Local veterans will lay ceremonial wreaths for each branch of the service, followed by The Wellsville American Legion Morrison Hayes Post 702 honor guard and rifle squad. The wreath laying will take place immediately after the ceremony.
We are lucky enough to have Civil War re-enactors in our area who are willing and happy to participate in our ceremony each year.
Last year, John Embser and Walt Gardner were gracious enough to loan me their family’s Victorian hearse. The re-enactors walked behind the horse drawn hearse, complete with a flag draped coffin, conducting a mock tribute to their fallen comrade.
This year, Annabel’s Battery from Canisteo will be playing a part in our ceremony. They not only are part of the Union Army, but also participate on the Confederate side when needed.
In the Independence Cemetery, there are two brothers who fought in the Civil War. One for the north, one for the south.
The brothers, George H. Bassett and F.M. (Francis Marion) Bassett are buried just a short distance from each other.
From what I have found, they were the children of John and Martha Bassett, who had a total of 14 children. Family lore ( told to me through actual ancestors) has it that they were having a hard time providing for that many children. As was quite common in those days, George was sent to live and work with family in Mobile, Alabama.
The Confederacy was the first to enact compulsory military draft, which meant that George had no choice but to serve in the Confederate Army, serving in Co. A 21st Alabama Infantry.
Meanwhile, Francis remained living in Independence, serving in Co. E 1st. N.Y.D.
While this is the quintessential Civil War story of brother verses brother, luckily the two regiments never did meet in battle.
Following the war, George moved back to New York. After his death, he was brought back to his hometown to be buried with family.
Legend has it that this created quite a ruckus in our area, as many people did not want a Confederate soldier buried amongst our Union soldiers. The Civil War was still quite fresh in 1912.
Eventually, it was settled, and George’s family was allowed to bury him in Independence. Both stones have the veteran’s military info noted on them.
Both a Union and a Confederate soldier from Annabel’s Battery will join together to lay a wreath at the base of the Veteran’s Memorial to honor the brothers.
We will be honoring not only our Union soldiers, but also a hometown man who was, by a simple twist of fate, a Confederate soldier.
You do not have to have sponsored a wreath to participate in WAA. Please bring your family and friends to help us honor our veterans and learn some history in the process. (Kids young and old love the Civil War soldiers, who in turn, enjoy talking and sharing history.)
A look back at the 2023 ceremony in Whitesville:
