LEWISTON – When Stephen L. Mariner left home to join the 31st Maine Infantry Regiment in the 1860s, the fate of the country was uncertain. The 20-year-old Lewiston native may have wondered who would mourn those who died during the country’s Civil War, and whether they would live in a country divided or united.
Over 150 years later, the George A. Custer Post No. 7, Grand Army of the Republic Association gathered at Mariner’s graveside to remember his service and to thank him and other Civil War soldiers who are buried near his grave for their efforts to keep the country united. Five people attended the graveside service at Riverside Cemetery Saturday, which was lead by chaplain Jerry DerBoghosian, a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy.
DerBoghosian’s invocation gave thanks for the good example of all those who gave their lives either on the battlefield or through starvation, torture or disease. The ceremony included readings of President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and the 1868 designation of May 30 as Decoration Day. Attendees also sang “God Bless America” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” DerBoghosian then sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
After the service, DerBoghosian said that he was thinking specifically of Mariner when he gave his invocation. Mariner was taken prisoner by the Confederacy and died in Salisbury Prison in North Carolina in 1864. During the time he was a prisoner, he likely suffered starvation, torture and disease.
Mariner is buried next to his mother and father. DerBoghosian said that although he doesn’t know of any living relatives in the area, he has seen flowers on the graves during Memorial Day services in the past.
DerBoghosian said that two years ago Mariner’s grave stone was damaged and leaning to the point that it was nearly falling down. After an article in this newspaper, the Riverside Cemetery Association received $250 in donations, enough to repair the stone and stones marking Mariner’s mother and father. The group would like to repair the stones of the other Civil War soldiers buried near Mariner, some of which are illegible or being overgrown with poison ivy. Donations toward this project can be sent to Jan Sites, treasurer, Riverside Cemetery Association, 192 Summer St., Lewiston, ME 04240.
George A. Custer Post No. 7 has about a dozen members, all Civil War buffs. DerBoghosian said that the Daughters of the American Revolution used to attend meetings, but that attendance at functions like Saturday’s Civil War service has dropped in recent years. “I’d like to see more people get interested,” he said.
As for himself, “I’ll keep doing it until the time comes for me to join them.”
Comments are no longer available on this story