"Rest on Arms"

"Rest on Arms". A Memorial to Indiana County's Civil War Veterans. , Preserving the Union: Honoring the Past , The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, John T. Crawford Camp #43, along with the support of the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County, the Indiana County Tourist Bureau and the Sarah A. Crawford Auxiliary came together for the purpose of honoring Indiana County Civil War veterans. The honoring of these veterans has taken the form of a life-sized bronze statue of a Civil War private atop a barnstone base. The Memorial has been placed on the front lawn of the Silas M. Clark House, once used as the former G.A.R. Post #28 meeting hall., The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is a patriotic and educational organization similar to the Grand Army of the Republic, founded in 1881, and incorporated by an Act of Congress approved on August 29, 1954., The Soldier's Pose: "Rest on Arms" , Rest on Arms is a ceremonial pose of the Union soldier. This thoughtful, prayerful, reflective and respectful pose is a non-warrior position, reflecting the longing for peace and reunion with family, friends and community that was always on the mind of the ordinary soldier. The pose reflects the sacrifice for freedom that our soldiers accepted with courage and honor., Timeline for Fulfilling the Veterans' Vision , Late Fall, 2009 · Development of proposal packet for a Civil War Memorial by Tim Nupp., January-March 2010 · Presentation made and partnership formed; hereafter referred to as The Indiana County Civil War Memorial Committee., May 13, 2010 · First meeting of the Civil War Memorial Committee., July 10, 2010 · Press release announcing the Memorial to the community., July, 2010-May 2013 · Indiana County Civil War Memorial Committee participation in living history events throughout the community raising funds for project. The fundraising begins with a three day, 40 mile walk from Cherry Tree to Blairsville, PA in September 2010., May 18, 2013 · Cornerstone Laying Ceremony conducted to commence construction of memorial base. Ceremony based on a 1906 Grand Army of the Republic ceremony., November 11, 2013 · Formal dedication of the "Rest on Arms" Memorial., Humble Beginnings , [Drawing captions, left to right, read], . Preliminary concept drawing, Fall 2009 , . Rough idea sketch, Fall 2009 , . Clay miniature produced by sculptor John McCombie , . Pen and ink rendering used in early promotional pieces, In the Sculptor's Studio , Various views of full-sized clay sculptures produced in the studio of Indiana County native and artist/sculptor, John McCombie., Indiana County Civil War Memorial Committee , Timothy Nupp, Chairperson , Kenneth Bisbee · Robert Bowser · Susan Carson · Dr. Christine Catalfamo , Eugene Decker · Terry Greene · Amy Gresh · Martin Harbaugh · Judith Johnson , Rev. Walter Marr · Kenneth Hinton, Infantryman