Picture of the day - February 6, 2007

The "Unknown Confederate Dead" Memorial In Abingdon, VA

One of the many sad realities of war is that the circumstances under which some soldiers die make it impossible for their identities to be determined. The advent of DNA testing has helped a great deal in minimizing this problem, but there will probably always be a few battlefield casualties who will end up being known only as an "unknown soldier". The American Civil War certainly had its share of unknown soldiers, and a number of them are buried in Abingdon, Virginia's Sinking Spring Cemetery. The Sons of Confederate Veterans dedicated the memorial featured above on July 4, 2002 in remembrance of all of the Confederate "Unknown Soldiers" who are buried on Sinking Spring's hallowed ground. A major part of the legacy of any town, city, or country can be found in its cemeteries, and Abingdon is no exception. An hour or two spent walking through Sinking Spring Cemetery will give you a glimpse into the rich history of both the town and our great nation, as well as a new perspective on the sacrifices that have been made over the years in order to get us to where we are today.   "Picture of the Day" archives             Submit a photo of your own!            Why I publish the "Picture of the Day"