George Armstrong Custer Post 7, Grand Army of the Republic Association, led Civil War ceremonies at Riverside Cemetery. From left are Belanny Campbell in front of Larry Mayes, Armand Bussiere, Carmen Spencer, Lorna Jollymore and Jerry DerBoghosian.

Civil War veterans recalled in ceremony

LEWISTON – The George Armstrong Custer Post 7, Grand Army of the Republic Association, and friends recently conducted Civil War ceremonies at “Soldier’s Field” at Riverside Cemetery, where 14 Civil War veterans are buried.

Special attention was paid at the monument of Stephen Marriner, Private, 16th Infantry Maine, who died as a prisoner of war in the Confederate prison, Salisbury, N.C. He is buried there along with other Union Army prisoners.

The program opened with singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” by the assembly and invocation by Jerry DerBoghosian.

Those present sang the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” before Lorna Jollymore read Gen. John A. Logan’s General Order 11, setting aside May 30, 1868, as “Decoration Day.”

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was read by Armand Bussiere and Larry Mayes read the list of Maine Civil War veterans who died in Confederate prison during the Civil War.

Jerry DerBoghosian gave the history of Custer Post 7, GAR, and those assembled closed by singing “God Bless America.”