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Fallen soldier receives headstone in Kalispell 100 years after burial

Posted at 4:45 PM, May 24, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-24 19:53:07-04

KALISPELL – This is an extra special Memorial Day in the Flathead, as 104 years later, a fallen solider finally receives a headstone in his honor.

Glacier and Flathead high school wrestling teams placed flags on his and other fallen soldiers’ graves in honor of Memorial Day, an annual tradition for both schools.

Jerry Stewart with the VFW served in the Vietnam war and tells us that Memorial Day is about honoring all those who gave their lives for our country, and has extra meaning for Edward Green of the 33rd Illinois Infantry, who died on October 29th 1914 and was buried without a headstone.

Over one hundred years later, he is finally being recognized.

“He had a granddaughter that found out about his grave here,” Stewart said. “And she sent us a letter and we took care on what we’re supposed to do for veterans like that and honor them with a memorial grave for the veterans.”

The memorial services of the United States verified Green’s service and the headstone was sent to Kalispell.

Stewart tells us that Green most likely didn’t have a headstone because his family couldn’t afford one at the time.