 | Frank Bergquist graduated from Eddyville, IA, high school in 1958. After graduation, he entered the Army, serving 20 years in Missouri, Maryland, New Mexico, Germany, Iowa, Turkey, Kansas, S.E. Asia, and finally retiring in 1978 in Louisiana. Before retiring, Frank was assigned as an ROTC instructor at WSU and Kemper Military School until 1974. In 1978 he served as the Non-Commissioned officer in charge of operations at Fort Polk, LA. He has served as the Veterans Counselor (DVOP) with the Kansas Job Service Center National Service Office, with the Disabled American Veterans at the VA Regional Office in Wichita; Veterans Employment and Training Coordinator with the US Dept. of Labor at Ft. Riley, KS; Service Coordinator with Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation; Dept Adjutant-Treasurer and the Dept. Executive Director Dept. of Kansas Disabled American Veterans; and past President of the Wichita Civil War Round Table. Currently he is doing graduate work as an instructor in Genealogy and Military History at Wichita State and Kansas State Universities, and is the CEO for the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Stores in Wichita, KS. Bergquist has an AA from Kemper Military School and College from Boonville, MO. and a BGS from Wichita State University. He can be reached by telephone at 316-262-6501. He is located at 926 N. Mosley Wichita 67214. |
Veteran Affairs
2006-07-01 09:38:00
Why are veterans’ headstones different from each other?
ANSWER: Ever walked in your local cemetery and seen the different headstones for veterans? Headstones always interest me especially those of Civil War Veterans. The main difference between Union and Confederate headstones is the size. The story goes that the confederate stones were made pointed so that Union Soldiers could not set on top of them. True or not, it makes fora good story. The real reason was to distinguish between the two armies. When the Spanish American War occurred later and unfortunately the fallen came back, only one style of headstone was used that was the rounded top of the Union Soldiers. The only problem was left up to the individual families as to whether to use either the Union or Confederate style when the deceased had Union Service prior to, during or after CSA service. But even then there was a difference in style due to the manufacturer. It varied in height, thickness, length and unfortunately quality of stone and engraving. Remember the lowest bidder got the contract.One other thing to remember about, are those headstones that have the line reading "MEDAL OF HONOR". This column is too short to list all the names of the Civil War era awards of this medal.General George Custer's unit during the closing days of the war received thirty six awards of the Medal of Honor. All of these were for the capture of rebel flags. If you find one of these markers please let me know, by emailing freehold@swbell.net. I have records on many of the MOH recipients for Kansas, but there are always some missing. The DAV placed a Medal of Honor OH marker for Captain James Kirk in Maple Grove Cemetery in Wichita, KS while standing by his graveside at the ceremonies; I spotted the resting place of Samuel Wright also a CW veteran who had been awarded the Medal of Honor. Later we were able to also place a marker for him also. The grave of Joseph Wartick was also marked with a Medal of Honor headstone in the cemetery outside of Leon, KS. The family descendants’ had all three versions of the MOH but did not know what they were for.
