Minnesota Boys of ‘61
Growing up in Le Sueur, Minnesota during the 1950s and 1960s, Vietnam War veteran and Life Member of Le Sueur VFW Post 4297,
George Luskey acquired a love of Minnesota’s Civil and Indian wars history at an early age. As a result of his life-long passion for both subjects, Luskey has been an avid Civil War re-enactor for nearly 30 years—taking part in the 150th anniversary battle reenactments at Shiloh, Tennessee (2012), Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (2013), and most recently, the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln Funeral Train in Springfield, Illinois (2015).
With this in mind, it's not unusual that Mr. Luskey is also the founder and president of The Minnesota Boys of '61 Civil War Memorial Project Committee, a non-profit group of dedicated, like-minded Civil War era historians and re-enactors whose goal it is to create a state memorial honoring the courage and sacrifice of all Minnesota soldiers who answered their nation’s call in its darkest hour by stepping forward to defend its highest ideals, while at the same time defending their homes and families on the Minnesota frontier. The Minnesota Boys of ‘61 was formed at the onset of the American Civil War sesquicentennial observance (2011-2016), and consists of five members or “Directors” from different parts of the state. Meetings take place the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m., at the Dan Patch American Legion Post 643, in Savage, MN.
Surprisingly, there is no single monument or point of reference that effectively brings together all the state’s military units to collectively tell the compelling story of Minnesota’s military involvement in the Civil War, as well as the U.S.-Dakota War. Individual communities have Civil War or U.S.-Dakota War memorials dedicated to a group of local heroes; there are battlefield monuments dedicated to a particular unit’s involvement in a particular campaign; there are even monuments dedicated to individual soldiers. However, there is no all-encompassing, memorial to all 21 of the state’s infantry, cavalry and artillery units, despite the historical fact that Minnesota was the first state to offer its services in defense of the Union in 1861. Josiah King was the first man to volunteer for military service in the American Civil War. Albert Woolson of Duluth was the last Civil War veteran to pass away in the United States. He died in 1956, giving Minnesota the distinction of being at the forefront of the war effort, as well as being home to the last man standing. In 1862, Minnesota’s commitment of sending troops to “put down the rebellion,” would put the state in serious jeopardy when the Dakota Indians launched an all-out offensive to drive white settlers from the Minnesota River valley. For their heroic efforts, both Minnesota’s Civil and Dakota war soldiers deserve better than to be forgotten by the state they did so much to create and defend.
The greatest challenge to the group has been the issue of securing a permanent site upon which the memorial is to be built. Initial plans called for it to be built either at Fort Snelling National Cemetery or on the mall of the Minnesota State Capitol. Officials at the National Cemetery wanted to keep the area outside the original main gate free from any use; other areas were discussed, but none of these potential sites were ever secured for the memorial. At the State Capitol, the amount of space on the mall was limited for the amount of area that was planned for the Boys of ’61 memorial, owing to the presence of so many other memorials commemorating the role Minnesotans played in other conflicts. It was then suggested by the Minnesota Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, along with the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans’ Affairs, as well as the Minnesota Commanders Task Force to locate the Boys of ‘61 memorial appropriately in Summit Park, across the street from the Minnesota History Center, so it could be tied into the Josiah King Monument, already there. A concerted effort to secure this site was made on the part of the Minnesota Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Project Committee, which included extensive research into which governmental entity actually administered Summit Park. After years of hard work and ongoing fundraising activities on the part of the Minnesota Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Project Committee, as well as their ability to obtain a formal resolution by the Minnesota House of Representatives, expressing a similar desire on the part of that legislative body to build a Civil War memorial at Summit Park, it was learned that Public Art St. Paul had contacted the City of St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department, with the idea of refurbishing the King Monument.
A meeting was held with directors of the three entities regarding the usage of the park, and Public Art St. Paul expressed concern to the City Parks Department that the Minnesota Boys of ‘61 Memorial would detract from their own efforts to restore the King Monument. Public Art St. Paul in effect stated they would not do the restoration of the King Monument if the Boys of ’61 Memorial was located in Summit Park. Political considerations dictated the City Parks Department’s subsequent refusal to authorize the Minnesota Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Project Committee to proceed. These political overtones were too much to overcome, and the dream of using Summit Park as the site for the memorial was shattered. Undaunted, the Minnesota Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Project Committee went back to the Fort Snelling National Cemetery and to Historic Fort Snelling where negotiations with leaders from both sites are in progress.
In the meantime, fundraising efforts continue. The Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Committee offers a beautiful signed and numbered commemorative print (“Keepers of the Flame”), created by Minneapolis artist David Geister for a $150.00 donation to the cause. This painting can be seen on our website. It is hoped that Post homes from Canada to Iowa, as well as individual Minnesotans will proudly purchase and display this painting as a show of financial support in building a memorial honoring the courage and sacrifice of their ancestors. Building this memorial is long overdue, and we, the members of the Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Committee, ask for your help to make the dream a reality.
For more information on the Minnesota Boys of ‘61Civil War Memorial Project, please check out our website at: www.minnesotaboysof61.org/
--Bryce O. Stenzel, Minnesota Boys of ’61 Civil War Memorial Project Member
George Luskey acquired a love of Minnesota’s Civil and Indian wars history at an early age. As a result of his life-long passion for both subjects, Luskey has been an avid Civil War re-enactor for nearly 30 years—taking part in the 150th anniversary battle reenactments at Shiloh, Tennessee (2012), Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (2013), and most recently, the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln Funeral Train in Springfield, Illinois (2015).
With this in mind, it's not unusual that Mr. Luskey is also the founder and president of The Minnesota Boys of '61 Civil War Memorial Project Committee, a non-profit group of dedicated, like-minded Civil War era historians and re-enactors whose goal it is to create a state memorial honoring the courage and sacrifice of all Minnesota soldiers who answered their nation’s call in its darkest hour by stepping forward to defend its highest ideals, while at the same time defending their homes and families on the Minnesota frontier. The Minnesota Boys of ‘61 was formed at the onset of the American Civil War sesquicentennial observance (2011-2016), and consists of five members or “Directors” from different parts of the state. Meetings take place the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m., at the Dan Patch American Legion Post 643, in Savage, MN.
Surprisingly, there is no single monument or point of reference that effectively brings together all the state’s military units to collectively tell the compelling story of Minnesota’s military involvement in the Civil War, as well as the U.S.-Dakota War. Individual communities have Civil War or U.S.-Dakota War memorials dedicated to a group of local heroes; there are battlefield monuments dedicated to a particular unit’s involvement in a particular campaign; there are even monuments dedicated to individual soldiers. However, there is no all-encompassing, memorial to all 21 of the state’s infantry, cavalry and artillery units, despite the historical fact that Minnesota was the first state to offer its services in defense of the Union in 1861. Josiah King was the first man to volunteer for military service in the American Civil War. Albert Woolson of Duluth was the last Civil War veteran to pass away in the United States. He died in 1956, giving Minnesota the distinction of being at the forefront of the war effort, as well as being home to the last man standing. In 1862, Minnesota’s commitment of sending troops to “put down the rebellion,” would put the state in serious jeopardy when the Dakota Indians launched an all-out offensive to drive white settlers from the Minnesota River valley. For their heroic efforts, both Minnesota’s Civil and Dakota war soldiers deserve better than to be forgotten by the state they did so much to create and defend.
The greatest challenge to the group has been the issue of securing a permanent site upon which the memorial is to be built. Initial plans called for it to be built either at Fort Snelling National Cemetery or on the mall of the Minnesota State Capitol. Officials at the National Cemetery wanted to keep the area outside the original main gate free from any use; other areas were discussed, but none of these potential sites were ever secured for the memorial. At the State Capitol, the amount of space on the mall was limited for the amount of area that was planned for the Boys of ’61 memorial, owing to the presence of so many other memorials commemorating the role Minnesotans played in other conflicts. It was then suggested by the Minnesota Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, along with the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans’ Affairs, as well as the Minnesota Commanders Task Force to locate the Boys of ‘61 memorial appropriately in Summit Park, across the street from the Minnesota History Center, so it could be tied into the Josiah King Monument, already there. A concerted effort to secure this site was made on the part of the Minnesota Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Project Committee, which included extensive research into which governmental entity actually administered Summit Park. After years of hard work and ongoing fundraising activities on the part of the Minnesota Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Project Committee, as well as their ability to obtain a formal resolution by the Minnesota House of Representatives, expressing a similar desire on the part of that legislative body to build a Civil War memorial at Summit Park, it was learned that Public Art St. Paul had contacted the City of St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department, with the idea of refurbishing the King Monument.
A meeting was held with directors of the three entities regarding the usage of the park, and Public Art St. Paul expressed concern to the City Parks Department that the Minnesota Boys of ‘61 Memorial would detract from their own efforts to restore the King Monument. Public Art St. Paul in effect stated they would not do the restoration of the King Monument if the Boys of ’61 Memorial was located in Summit Park. Political considerations dictated the City Parks Department’s subsequent refusal to authorize the Minnesota Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Project Committee to proceed. These political overtones were too much to overcome, and the dream of using Summit Park as the site for the memorial was shattered. Undaunted, the Minnesota Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Project Committee went back to the Fort Snelling National Cemetery and to Historic Fort Snelling where negotiations with leaders from both sites are in progress.
In the meantime, fundraising efforts continue. The Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Committee offers a beautiful signed and numbered commemorative print (“Keepers of the Flame”), created by Minneapolis artist David Geister for a $150.00 donation to the cause. This painting can be seen on our website. It is hoped that Post homes from Canada to Iowa, as well as individual Minnesotans will proudly purchase and display this painting as a show of financial support in building a memorial honoring the courage and sacrifice of their ancestors. Building this memorial is long overdue, and we, the members of the Boys of ‘61 Civil War Memorial Committee, ask for your help to make the dream a reality.
For more information on the Minnesota Boys of ‘61Civil War Memorial Project, please check out our website at: www.minnesotaboysof61.org/
--Bryce O. Stenzel, Minnesota Boys of ’61 Civil War Memorial Project Member
P.O. Box 40203, St. Paul, MN 55104 | info@minnesotaboysof61.org
© 2015 Minnesota Boys of '61
© 2015 Minnesota Boys of '61