Monday

Civil War Monument


This monument was mostly for veterans of the American Civil War, but names are also recorded for enlistments in the Blackhawk War, the Mexican War, and the Spanish-American War. Various plaques also name veterans buried in McLean County from the American Revolution and the War of 1812.

Erected in honor of "...the sons and citizens who...shed their life-blood that liberty might endure…"

This memorial is located on the north end of Miller Park, a large public park on the city's west side. The monument is estimated to be 60 feet tall (18 m). There is a tall column on top of arches. A statue of a soldier in Civil War dress is atop the column. Inside the four arches are plaques commemorating the soldiers and sailors.

The main plaque reads:

McLean County in loving and grateful remembrance of valorous deed on battlefield and sea dedicates this monument as a lasting memorial to her sons and citizens who freely bared their breasts and shed their life-blood that liberty and the nation might endure; that oppression should fall and that human progress might advance.

The names enrolled within this structure in bronze are the men who served in the defense of the Union from McLean County in the War of the Rebellion and those who enlisted elsewhere but were long citizens of this county; also McLean County enlistments in the Blackhawk, Mexican, and Spanish-American Wars; also the names of the soldiers of the Revolution and soldiers of the War of 1812 buried in McLean County.

Erected by Board of Supervisors of McLean County in 1912.

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