Veteran's Military Museum

The Veterans Military Museum is dedicated to the men and women of West Frankfort and surrounding communities that have served their country during the time of war. Many young boys of the area left from this very depot to go to war.

The Veterans Museum Depot is located on West Main Street in West Frankfort. It is a restored C&I railroad depot that is filled with memorabilia from the Civil War to Desert Storm. It has uniforms of all branches of service, a purple heart, horse saddles from World War I, insignia's & patches, gas masks, a World War II communication system and many other items on display.  The collection could easily fill a space twice the size of the one it's in, make sure to go slow and really look around, there's so much to see you're liable to miss something if you walk too fast. 

While we were there (after hours with the boy scouts) the man on hand was a veteran with his picture on the wall and plenty of stories to share.  You can ask him any questions and he definitely know what everything was and was happy to talk to you about it.

In front of the depot is a large statue of a World War I "doughboy" soldier. Inscribed on the front is "Lest We Forget". The veterans hold a memorial service in front of the depot each November 11th.

The volunteer staff of the museum consists of veterans of various branches of the United States Armed Forces. There is no admission charge for the museum, but donations are accepted. The Museum is open Sunday afternoons from 2:00 P.M to 4:00 P.M and other times by appointment. Call (618) 932-6159 for appointments.

Veterans Military Museum100 West Main StreetWest Frankfort, Il 62896

Mound City National Cemetery

My husband and I took the Harley down to Cairo from Rt 37 last weekend, and stumbled across the Mound City Cemetery. A little History:

It is one of twelve original National cemeteries, was established in 1864 following an act of July 17, 1862 whereby President Lincoln was authorized "to purchase cemetery grounds... to be used as a National Cemetery for soldiers who shall have died in the service of their country."

By 1874, the number of unknown soldiers and sailors was as high as 2,637. The inscription reads: "There are buried here 2,637 soldiers and sailors, names unknown, who lost their lives in defense of their country. Their services are here commemorated although their names are lost from the roll of honor."
"Known But to God" are the identities of 2.789 who rest in the hallowed ground of Mound City National Cemetery. Since the great conflict in 1861-1865, this cemetery is the final resting place of veterans, their spouses and dependent children from the Mexican War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korean conflict, Vietnam and Persian Gulf. More than nine-thousand interments have been made in Mound City National Cemetery since its establishment in 1864.

It is a truely beautiful cemetery, and I could have easily spent hours drifting among the rows of pristine white markers. There is also a large mansion at the front gate, which I assume hold the records of the dead.

Mound City National Cemetery Preservation Commission, Inc.
PO Box 45
Mound City, IL 62963

Directions to the cemetery
From Cairo exit of I-57, go north on old US 51 to Rt. 37. Cemetery is at the intersection.
From Mounds exit 8, go east to Route 37, then south through Mound City to the cemetery.