Wayne County Museum - BULLETIN News
- Deb Hall
- Aug 11
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 11
The Bulletin August 6, 2026
True Valor at Gettysburg
A Monument for our Time
Dedication Ceremony ~ Saturday, August 22, 1pm.
This 3-year project is finally coming to fruition. The monument will honor local Civil War soldiers with a 3-figure, life-size bronze statue that represents patriotism, bravery, and heroic sacrifice. Events surrounding the dedication will take place on Friday evening, August 21 and all day Saturday, August 22.
The monument depicts a moment in time at Gettysburg when the 111th charged in to battle and four of their color bearers were killed or mortally wounded. The Monument is scheduled for delivery and installation very soon, just in time our Dedication event. More event details are below.
Left: Color Guard in bronze at the foundry in Kentucky. Above: Artist and Sculptor, Gary Casteel pencil rendering of the finished piece.
The Welcome Reception
Dave Malgee of Williamson to provide presentation at Friday Welcome Reception.
On Friday, August 21 at 6pm, the dedication will start with a Welcome Reception at the Lyons Elks Lodge on Church St. This is a free and an open invitation. This will provide a chance to learn more about the 111th Regiment, for whom the monument was fashioned. There will be appetizers, a cash bar.
We are proud to host Wayne County native, Dave Malgee of Williamson. He will provide a general overview of the 111th regiment with anecdotes and artifacts pertaining to the early days of the 111th regiment, from muster to Gettysburg.
Malgee received his BA in history from SUNY Oswego and his MA in history from the University of Richmond. He has been a lifelong student of the Civil War and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Gettysburg Museum of History and on the Advisory Board of Gettysburg History.
Dedication Day August 22
Dedication Day Events 10am - 5pm
Live Music with Don Dwyer (10am), Towpath Fife & Drum (12:15pm)
Soldiers' Parade (12:45pm), Excelsior Band (2:30pm). PLUS Community Muster, Camps and Demonstrations in the Park.
Dedication Ceremony 1pm
at Lyons Central Park.
This granite pedestal will soon contain the bronze statues of TRUE VALOR. Join us for this special commemoration to the 111th and local veterans.
Soldiers' Parade is less than 1/4 mile around Lyons Central Park. Waling, Marching. No Vehicles, wheelchairs welcome.
The Soldiers’ Parade will be at 12:45 pm. It will be led by the American Legion Color Guard accompanied by the Towpath Fife & Drum from Broad St. around Central Park to the base of the monument. Viewers can stay in the park.
Veterans and families of fallen soldiers are invited to march in honor of their time in service or for their ancestors, whom are being remembered during this 250th anniversary year of American independence.
Local service members, veterans, reenactors and families are invited to join the parade in current or period uniform to represent and honor the generational kinship of service.
Special Screening of a Gettysburg Documentary (3pm)
At 3pm, the Ohmann Theatre will open for a complimentary showing of a new documentary “The Gettysburg Book – A father, son, and the Killer Angels” (75 min) followed by Q&A with Director/Producer Gordon (Gordie) Beittenmiller who worked on The Killer Angels documentary.
The film traces the story through the perspective of author Michael Shaara’s children, Jeff and Lila, offering a personal lens into the creative process and the lasting emotional impact on the Shaara family. Insight from notable voices, including actors Martin Sheen, Jeff Daniels, and Stephen Lang, director Ron Maxwell, and respected historians Gary Gallagher, Carrie Janney, and Scott Hartwig, underscores the book’s cultural and historical reach.
Farewell Reception
Martin Husk, Author of "The 111th New York Volunteer Infantry: A Civil War History" which is a complete history of the unit with mention of many of the men who served under its banner.
On Saturday, August 22 at 5:30pm, we will close out our dedication day with a wonderful farewell reception at the Lyons Elks Lodge. This is a free and an open invitation. The evening will begin with live period music from LaMay & Reese and the 315ers at the Elks Lodge. A Soldier's meal will be offered to all attendees from 6pm to 6:45pm.
The evening's keynote speaker will be author Martin Husk. Husk is a native of Maryland and developed a deep appreciation for history early in life, particularly a lasting love of the American Civil War.
He published his first book, a comprehensive regimental history of the 111th New York Infantry in 2009, and has since expanded into historical fiction, releasing two novels last year.
He will tell the story of the 111th from just after Gettysburg to the end of the war with a focus on the Battle of the Wilderness.
In addition to the monument, hours of research have been conducted to discover the names and details of many soldiers from the 111th and other local units who served in the Civil War. Nearly 100 articles have been written and published in the Times of Wayne County about these men and women. These articles are being edited and posted in the News section of our website.
During that research we discovered many ancestors who served during the colonial period as well as descendants and relatives who are carrying on the memory or legacy of their family member.
If you are a descendant of a local Civil War or Revolutionary War soldier, and you plan to attend one of these dedication events, please help us record and recognize this connection between ancestors and today's citizens by filling out a short form notating that connection. We are using this information to create a robust database of Wayne County soldiers that will link to primary source material.
21 Butternut St, Lyons, NY, USA
315-946-4943
MUSEUM HOURS
April - November
Tuesday - Saturday, 10am to 4pm
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