The Wayne County Historical Society in Wayne County New York has announce that a new Civil War monument will be unveiled this summer at the county seat of Lyons. The new monument is titled “True Valor at Gettysburg.” The dedication will take place Aug. 22 at 1 p.m. The monument will contain 3 life-size bronze figures depicting soldiers from 111th New York Regiment at Gettysburg. According to Historical Society:
[The dedication will be] held Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Lyons Central Park, Lyons, NY from 10am to 5pm.
This event is free and open to the public. Activities in and around the park will include: Farmers’ Market (8am-12pm), Live Period Music, Living History Demonstrations and “Camps”, Civic History Organizations, Food Vendor, Community Muster for Families, Parade of Soldiers.
Monument Dedication takes place at 1pm followed by music from the Excelsior Coronet Band.
Documentary “Killer Angels” shown at the Ohmann Theatre with Q&A with Producer Jake Boritt. 3pm – 4:30pm.
This event is free and open to the public. Activities in and around the park will include: Farmers’ Market (8am-12pm), Live Period Music, Living History Demonstrations and “Camps”, Civic History Organizations, Food Vendor, Community Muster for Families, Parade of Soldiers.
Monument Dedication takes place at 1pm followed by music from the Excelsior Coronet Band.
Documentary “Killer Angels” shown at the Ohmann Theatre with Q&A with Producer Jake Boritt. 3pm – 4:30pm
This event is free and open to the public. Activities in and around the park will include: Farmers’ Market (8am-12pm), Live Period Music, Living History Demonstrations and “Camps”, Civic History Organizations, Food Vendor, Community Muster for Families, Parade of Soldiers.
Monument Dedication takes place at 1pm followed by music from the Excelsior Coronet Band.
Documentary “Killer Angels” shown at the Ohmann Theatre with Q&A with Producer Jake Boritt. 3pm – 4:30pm.
There were nearly 1,100 soldiers in the 111th Regiment, drawn predominantly from Wayne County and neighboring Cayuga County. Many of the soldiers were young boys who, alongside brothers, uncles, and fathers, volunteered to defend a moral choice for personal freedom and national unity.
They would go on to fight in every major battle in the east, from the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, to the siege of Petersburg and the end of the war at Appomattox in April 1865. When the men returned home as heroes, little more than 100 of those who originally joined in 1862 were left in the ranks. Many more Wayne County residents served in the Union Army beyond the 111th, including former slaves who served in the United States Colored Troops.
The monument scene depicts an infantryman protecting a color bearer as he retrieves the flag from a fallen soldier. Two flag bearers who fell at Gettysburg are depicted — Sgt. Judson Hicks of Company A and Corporal Payson Derby of Company G.
The third soldier is an infantryman who represents the other 111th soldiers. Sculptor Gary Casteel used photographs of Hicks and Derby to create their facial likenesses in clay, to be ultimately cast in bronze. Casteel has created dozens of bronze sculptures, several of which are installed at Gettysburg National Military Park.
The above events are free. There are two night time events that carry a small charge:
On August 21st there will be a welcome reception to start the celebration. You must register for this event and it carries a nominal fee.
The night of August 22nd there is a closing ceremony including a history of the 111th New York Infantry. You must register here.
Lyons has pretty much the same population now as it had at the time of the Civil War. The hamlet has a population of 3,619 now and it had a population of 3,350 in 1870. The hamlet is about 45 minutes east of Rochester, New York.
Follow Reconstruction Blog on Social Media: