GAR and other Marker Projects
Grave Marker for Union Veteran and his Wife
Tiger Camp 432 is involved in a project to erect a tombstone for a Boone County Patriot who, in his time, put forth an effort to respect and recognize the veterans of this community. Wallace Lilly , a former slave who served in Company K of the 68th Missouri Division during the Civil War, was responsible for obtaining 38 grave markers for Civil War veterans with unmarked graves, through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic.
The graves of Mr. Lilly and his wife currently lie unmarked, in the Columbia Cemetery, and it is our wish to see this dedicated veteran recognized and honored with the placement of a marker in the style of the Veteran’s Administration issued military marker. A standard civilian marker would be placed for his wife. The Veteran’s Administration grave marker program will not supply this veteran with a marker, because of the lack of living descendants or an executor of his estate. We applied for the VA marker and have been rejected and appealed the rejection and we were denied. The Tiger Camp has tried, in vain, to locate any living descendants of the Lilly’s. We feel that Mr. Lilly and his wife should not do without markers any longer. We shall place markers on their resting spots obtained by donations to this project.
The approximate cost of this project is $400.00. Fundraising efforts have begun, with donations from Chuck Wilson Insurance and personal donations from members of the Tiger Camp 432. With the continued support of donors like you, our camp, with the involvement of other community organizations, hope to conduct a grave-marking ceremony within the calendar year.
GAR Marker
1st Battle of Boonville 1861 Start of Battle Marker located at Merna Bottoms at Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. The stone is placed on a gravel base and surrounded by over grown plants. We would like to place a walkway from the road/trail and a concrete foundation under the stone to prevent further deterioration of the marker. This project should be completed this spring with the help of Ken with Missouri River Monument Company of Boonville Missouri.
1st Battle of Boonville 1861 Start of Battle Marker located at Merna Bottoms at Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. The stone is placed on a gravel base and surrounded by over grown plants. We would like to place a walkway from the road/trail and a concrete foundation under the stone to prevent further deterioration of the marker. This project should be completed this spring with the help of Ken with Missouri River Monument Company of Boonville Missouri.
