COCHISE COUNTY G.A.R. MEMORIAL

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC WAS A FRATERNAL, CHARITABLE AND PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATION COMPRISED EXCLUSIVELY OF VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR WHO SERVED IN THE UNION ARMY, NAVY OR MARINE CORPS DURING THE PERIOD OF APRIL 12, 1861 TO APRIL 9, 1865. IT WAS FOUNDED IN SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, APRIL 16, 1866 BY MAJOR BENJAMIN F. STEPHENSON, EX-SURGEON OF THE 14TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY. IT WAS ORGANIZED PRIMARILY TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF FALLEN COMRADES, TO PROVIDE CARE FOR SURVIVING WIDOWS AND ORPHANS, TO CULTIVATE DEVOTION TO THE UNION, AND TO ESTABLISH BURIAL SITES AS A FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR ITS VETERAN’S MEMBERS. THE G.A.R. ALSO ESTABLISHED OLD SOLDIERS HOMES AND INSTITUTED THE OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY AS A DAY TO DECORATE CIVIL WAR UNION VETERANS GRAVES WITH FLOWERS.