Back row: Dana Parker, Gerry Autry, Renee Beste and Kathy Duarte; front: Mary Worthy, soldier Private Louis Caldera, Sande Rivas, Barbara van Brunt and Margaret Falkowski. Photo by Jerry Parker
Barb Williams
Can you learn Civil War history in a cemetery? Margaret Falkowski led a group to Evergreen Cemetery on Saturday, March 22 to find out for us. Here are her comments: “Betty Cook from the Arizona Historical Society organizes this yearly program to introduce current southern Arizona residents with Tucson pioneers. Our group from Unit 32 heard fascinating stories of early Tucson from living history interpreters. The group then went to another section of the cemetery to hear about the Grand Army of the Republic. The GAR was a fraternal organization for veterans of the Civil War. Yes, there are many Union soldiers buried in Tucson – even one Confederate soldier. While there we came upon Private Louis Caldera of the First New Mexico Infantry Company. He had just come from the Civil War reenactment at Picacho Peak. Dressed to the nines in his Union soldier uniform he told us what it was like to be a Union soldier. We all learned a lot of Tucson history and topped the day off with lunch at Guadalajara Grill.” Thanks, Margaret, for a chance to participate in such a unique, historical project.
Spring has sprung! Unit 32 celebrated the season on March 27 at the beautiful home of Tom and Patty Killoran. A capacity crowd enjoyed the beautiful weather with al fresco dining in their inviting backyard.