WOODSTOCK — George Lincoln Whitman was honored on Saturday at the South Woodstock cemetery, 105 years after his death, by several local veterans groups with a ceremony, flowers, flags and something he’d never had before — a headstone.

Whitman was born in Paris in September 1834 and enlisted in the 23rd Maine volunteer infantry regiment, Company G when he was 29. His company joined the brigade of General Cuvier Grover, who was born in Bethel. Whitman was discharged on Dec. 31, 1862, and no evidence suggests he was wounded.

Whitman lived out his remaining days in Andover and died on June 19, 1912. Until now, only a crumbling funeral marker has represented the veteran’s final resting spot, but thanks to the Sons and Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and the Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Whitman can rest easy knowing his memory has been honored.

Elsie Bonney of the Daughters of Union Veterans said the groups put out flags every year at each veteran’s headstone, and every year, they have noticed a headstone is missing or destroyed.

“It took us a little while to get around to this one, but we did,” Bonney said.

The Veterans Association paid for the stone after Sally Sawyer, also of the Daughters of Union Veterans, did some research on Whitman’s service and burial records. For the Veterans Association to pay for the stone, military service must be proven.

emarquis@sunmediagroup.net

Several veterans organizations Saturday dedicated a new gravestone to George L. Whitman on Saturday at the South Woodstock cemetery in Woodstock. From left are Elena Noyes, Sally Sawyer, Anne Sosnowski, Dennis Gray, Vicky Myers, Elsie Bonney, Helvi Cary, Larry Bonney, David Sosnowski and Marybeth Ray. 

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