flag for military honors for
william mcneal
hand delivered to table rock
Eagle Scout Trent Plager and Staff Sgt. Froa of Ft. Riley, Kansas, exchange salutes after Sgt. Froa delivered McNeal's flag.
On May 17, two soldiers from Ft. Riley, Kansas arrived at the Table Rock Cemetery, Staff Sgt. Allan Froa and Private Dwayne Crespo. Meeting them were Eagle Scout Trent Plager and Scoutmaster Roxie Snethen of Scout Troop 387 in Humboldt. The reason was unique. Plager was there to accept delivery of the burial flag for a Civil War soldier who died in the service of his country over 150 years ago. The flag was being delivered in advance of a dedication ceremony to be conducted the following week.
Plager stood at the base of the Civil War statue facing Staff Sgt. Froa, who held the flag. Behind them on the statue were the words, “Dedicated to the memory of our comrades who rest in unknown graves.” Staff Sgt. Froa stated, “This is a flag in memory of Private William McNeal of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry. He died in the service to his country. Will you accept this flag and the responsibility for keeping it safe until such time as it may be presented to his family?” Plager answered strongly that he would. The flag was handed to him. Staff Sgt. Froa then saluted Plager, who returned the salute.
Private William McNeal of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry drowned during a river crossing near Ft. Riley in June of 1862. He was the only soldier from Pawnee County known to have died in the war. His remains were never recovered. He was one to whom the statue had been dedicated, he resting in a place known but to God.
No tombstone was ever placed. The Table Rock Historical Society and Table Rock Cemetery Association secured a military tombstone in his memory. It has been installed next to the tombstone of his mother, who died in 1871. Among those present to watch the Scout and the soldier exchange salutes were Gregg Clement and Sharla Cerra, both officers of the Table Rock Historical Society. The flag has been placed in the Veterans Museum until an upcoming dedication ceremony.
On Saturday, May 27, at 10:30 a.m., the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will conduct a special ceremony to dedicate McNeal’s military tombstone. Civil War reenactors will march and present ceremonial tributes at the grave following a model conducted for Civil War veterans of long ago. The Scout troop will participate as will members of the Table Rock American Legion. Because McNeal died during active service, the U.S. Army will provide Military Honors – two soldiers will present the burial flag accepted by Plager to a relative of McNeals. One of them will play taps. The Sons of Union Veterans will provide a 21-gun salute to close their ceremony.
McNeal was a young Table Rock man of 21 who had enlisted together with three Table Rock friends of the same age. All were first-wave pioneers who had come to Table Rock with their families in the 1850s. A number of relatives, descendants of two of McNeal’s siblings, will attend the ceremony. Some from Nebraska and Missouri and some flying in from three different states.
Plager stood at the base of the Civil War statue facing Staff Sgt. Froa, who held the flag. Behind them on the statue were the words, “Dedicated to the memory of our comrades who rest in unknown graves.” Staff Sgt. Froa stated, “This is a flag in memory of Private William McNeal of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry. He died in the service to his country. Will you accept this flag and the responsibility for keeping it safe until such time as it may be presented to his family?” Plager answered strongly that he would. The flag was handed to him. Staff Sgt. Froa then saluted Plager, who returned the salute.
Private William McNeal of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry drowned during a river crossing near Ft. Riley in June of 1862. He was the only soldier from Pawnee County known to have died in the war. His remains were never recovered. He was one to whom the statue had been dedicated, he resting in a place known but to God.
No tombstone was ever placed. The Table Rock Historical Society and Table Rock Cemetery Association secured a military tombstone in his memory. It has been installed next to the tombstone of his mother, who died in 1871. Among those present to watch the Scout and the soldier exchange salutes were Gregg Clement and Sharla Cerra, both officers of the Table Rock Historical Society. The flag has been placed in the Veterans Museum until an upcoming dedication ceremony.
On Saturday, May 27, at 10:30 a.m., the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will conduct a special ceremony to dedicate McNeal’s military tombstone. Civil War reenactors will march and present ceremonial tributes at the grave following a model conducted for Civil War veterans of long ago. The Scout troop will participate as will members of the Table Rock American Legion. Because McNeal died during active service, the U.S. Army will provide Military Honors – two soldiers will present the burial flag accepted by Plager to a relative of McNeals. One of them will play taps. The Sons of Union Veterans will provide a 21-gun salute to close their ceremony.
McNeal was a young Table Rock man of 21 who had enlisted together with three Table Rock friends of the same age. All were first-wave pioneers who had come to Table Rock with their families in the 1850s. A number of relatives, descendants of two of McNeal’s siblings, will attend the ceremony. Some from Nebraska and Missouri and some flying in from three different states.
Staff Sgt. Froa, Eagle Scout Trenton Plager, Sharla Sitzman of the Table Rock Historical Society, Private Crespo, Scoutmaster Roxie Snethen, and Gregg Clement, President of the Table Rock Historical Society. Photo by Valerie Binder, who also attended.