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When the Civil War soldier
fell from his tower in December of 2008, Cliff Sullivan was one of
the first to step up and get involved in doing something to restore
the beloved monument.
Known to his friends as "Sonny," Cliff worked diligently to do what he
could to help, but on this special day he was not present to see the
end result.
A Logan County native, during his lifetime Sonny was employed at the
Lincoln Fire Department, Lincoln Developmental Center power plant,
at Logan Correctional Center as chief engineer and at the Lincoln
Correctional Center as chief engineer.
He served on the Logan County Board and the Logan County
Paramedic Association, was a member of Lincoln Christian Church, Lincoln Masonic Lodge 210 and the Logan County Shrine Club.
Sullivan died on Dec. 31, 2009. While he didn't see the project
completed, he was well aware of what it would be. On Saturday
afternoon, his family was present in his absence, including his son
Kyle, who addressed the crowd on his father's behalf.
Also included in the last part of the ceremony was a moving delivery
of a speech given by Gov. Richard Oglesby on June 10, 1869, at
the first dedication of the Civil War statue. To read that speech,
follow this link:
Gov. Richard Oglesby's dedication to fallen Civil War soldiers
At the conclusion of his speech,
Oglesby said: "In your grave sleep
on, honored dead. No field of earthly glory longer awaits you.
Separated in death from brothers in arms with whom on distant fields
you fell, whose graves may be unmarked, but whose names shall be
cherished as long as memory lasts; here at the home of your friends
returned to lie; rest in peace."
In addition to the statue, the committee also worked to put together
an encased memorial naming those Civil War veterans from Logan
County who lost their lives for our sakes. The memorial case now
occupies a prominent place on the second floor of the Logan County
Courthouse.
Reporting and pictures by Nila
Smith |
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Roger Matson -- a committee member, local merchant
and Main Street Lincoln president -- speaks briefly about
Sullivan. He then introduced Sullivan's son Kyle.
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Kyle Sullivan addresses the crowd, representing
his family and remembering his father. |
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Bill Donath, committee member and member of the
Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society, does a reading from a speech
delivered by Gov. Oglesby at the first dedication.
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Committee members JoAnne Marlin and Matson
deliver closing comments. |
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