Centerburg Lions Club to unveil historical marker on July 4

CENTERBURG — The Centerburg Lions Club will unveil a historical marker for Cpl. Abner Allen, a congressional Medal of Honor recipient, at noon on July 4.

The event will take place at Centerburg Gazebo Park, the corner of East Main and South Clayton streets.

Church bells will ring at noon to celebrate America 250. Boy Scouts of America Troop 382 will raise the flag, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Greg Myers will speak, followed by Lions Club member Chris Cordle and Tom Heston, a descendant of Allen.

Village Councilwoman Saundra Dove will announce the winners of the America 250 coloring contest.

The event will conclude with music by George Blocker and ice cream from Round Hill Dairy.

Allen received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service at the Battle of Fort Gregg during the American Civil War.

He was born on Oct. 9, 1839, in Illinois. He died on Aug. 22, 1905, and is buried in Centerburg.

On Sept. 2, 1861, Cpl. Allen enlisted in Company K of the 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. A member of the Color Guard, he carried the Illinois State flag at General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865.

Later in Washington, D.C., Secretary of War Edwin Stanton presented Allen with the Congressional Medal of Honor for meritorious conduct during the assault on Fort Gregg.

The assault took place near Petersburg, VA, on April 2, 1865. Under heavy fire, Allen was at the front of the assault on Fort Gregg as a color bearer.

Known as the Confederate Alamo, the assault was described as one of the most desperate of the war.

After the war, Allen married Mary Annett from Centerburg. The couple moved to Centerburg in about 1875. Allen spent the next 30 years of his life in the village.

A Medal of Honor headstone marks his grave at the Centerburg Cemetery. The Lions Club arranged for the historical marker.