COVENTRY – The iconic navy blue uniforms of the soldiers who saved this great union from destruction 147 years ago will once again grace Chenango County Sunday as the lives of Civil War veterans from the area are commemorated. Eight years ago, concern over the lack of proper honor that Chenango Civil War Veterans had received sparked members of the Coventry community into action. On the behalf of the long-dead soldiers, Coventry history enthusiasts contacted the proper authorities in an effort to procure honorary Civil War cemetery markers.

“In some instances, we have even needed to get headstones for those without,” said organizer and Vice President of the Coventry Town Museum Association Janine E. Hakim. “When it began eight years ago, there was a collaboration with the historical society and the event was so popular we decided to do it again the next year,” she said.

Since then, the event has grown in scope with the help of private donations and grants from the Chenango County Council of the Arts. Now each year Civil War re-enactors come from all over to attend the event and demonstrate for eager onlookers just what it was like to live during the war.

Sunday’s event begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Coventryville Congregational Church, with a worship service. The day continues with historical reenactors, music and tours, culminating with a commemorative program at 2 p.m.

“I’ve being doing it all eight years,” said organizer, musical reenactor, and Coventry church pastor Joyce Besemer. “It started as a small event for a solider who seemed as though he did not receive the honor he deserved. Then we added music and Bill Searfoss, who loves doing historical research, designed a program for us.” After the first year, organizers found themselves wondering if there were any other such soldiers from the area who had likewise not been honored for their service to the nation. Twenty other similar cases were discovered and the organizers decided to turn the commemoration into an annual event.