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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

National Civil War Museum – Walk of Valor

Posted By on December 18, 2010

The National Civil War Museum is located high on a hilltop overlooking Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  The museum aims to provide a balanced view and to inspire lifelong learning through preservation and research about the Civil War.   It has become a national destination for “families, students, civil war enthusiasts and historians to experience and research the culture and history of the American Civil War.”

On the grounds of the museum is “The Walk of Valor” – a red brick path symbolizing the blood shed and bearing the names of Civil War veterans honored by their surviving descendants.  There is a section for each state and all states that fought in the war have a stone marker indicating the number of soldiers that fought and the number of soldiers that died.

The Pennsylvania marker indicates that 337,936 served and 33,183 died.

Hundreds of bricks represent the State of Pennsylvania.  Some of the Pennsylvania memorial bricks are shown below.

One brick honors Jacob Kissinger:

Jacob Kissinger (1843-1921).  Jacob served in the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C (Home Guards) as a Private.  He also served in the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company K, as a Private.   On 18 Nov 1864 in theat Griswold Station, Georgia,  in the Atlanta Campaign, he received a gunshot wound in the left foot.  He married Amanda Williard.  He is buried in the Gratz Union (Simeon’s) Cemetery, Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

One brick honors William Rothermel.

William Rothermel (1842-1922).  William served in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A, as a Corporal and a Sergeant.  On 19 Aug 1864, William was injured at the Weldon Railroad when a wounded man fell on him.  He married Sarah Ann Schaffer.  He is buried in the St. Michael’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

Many others from the Lykens Valley area are also honored on the “Walk of Valor.”  Over time, additional bricks will be pictured that honor Civil War veterans from the Lykens Valley.

Anyone wishing to honor any veterans not currently recognized on the “Walk of Valor” can do so through the National Civil War Museum. Contact the National Civil War Museum through the website or call 717-260-1861 or 866-BLU-GRAY.

The National Civil War Museum, One Lincoln Circle at Reservoir Park, P.O. Box, 1861, Harrisburg, PA  17105-1861.


Comments

One Response to “National Civil War Museum – Walk of Valor”

  1. LAYNE PUGH says:

    HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS THERE IS A LIST OF ALL THE NAMES ON THE WALK OF VALOR ? IF SO WHERE CAN I GET A COPY OF IT ? I HAVE MY GG GRANDFATHER AND HIS BROTHER WHO SERVED IN THE WAR, HOW COULD I GET THERE NAMES ON BRICKS ? ANY INFO. YOU PROVIDE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME .