Corporal John P. Byrne of the 21st MO. Infantry is finally coming home to be laid to rest.  He died in 1920 and was cremated.  His sealed urn was placed on a shelf in a storage mausoleum waiting for someone to bring him home.  After an extensive search by a niece, he was located and will be buried next to two brothers, Harrison and Lucian, who also fought for the Union.

    Funeral and burial arrangements are being made for Saturday, May 28, 2005.  The wake and vigil will run from 12:00 noon on Friday till 12:00 noon on Saturday at the Payne Funeral Chapel and at the Courthouse which sits in the center of the town of Memphis, MO.  The Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865 organization is assisting the family with these arrangements to give this soldier a Veteran's service.  Since this may be the last funeral and burial of a Union Veteran, the family understands that there may be many who will want to come and pay their honors.  They are most graciously permitting us to claim John as one of our own, so that we may use this as an educational example of our Civil War history.  Corporal Byrne's funeral and burial will bring to light our plight to save our historic sites, cemeteries, monuments and battlefields.  A Memorial Fund has been established to help with this.

    We are planning for Friday evening at the Courthouse Square, a time to celebrate the lives of John and other soldiers from the Memphis, MO. area.  Some of the historical and educational entertainment programs are as follows.  Those that have a link are linked to the article that has been printed in the Memphis Democrat newspaper leading up to the event and will be included in the special event newspaper.  Check back for the weekly entries.  NEW LINKS.

• Memphis, MO. during the Civil War.
• The Bagpipe Music
• The Lincoln's Theater Production.
• The history of the 21st MO. Inf.
• The MO. Medical Brigade explaining John’s war injuries.
• Musicians and singers performing period and patriotic music.
• Reading of Gen. John Logan's Memorial Day Order # 11.
• A 35 Star Flag for the Coffin Pall
• The evening will end with John's eulogy.

    John not only had two brothers that also fought for the Union, but he had another older brother Charles, who fought for the Confederacy.  Charles was living in Virginia at the outbreak of the Civil War and joined the 27th VA. Inf. CSA.  To our knowledge, the brothers never met on a field of battle and continued their relationships after the war.  The family has asked that we honor all of these brothers.  Therefore, Charles will be represented as a pallbearer, with a CSA cannon salute and with a CSA Taps salute.  More will be added later on the lives of all four brothers.

NEW   Family links that will be printed in the Memphis Democrat newspaper:
      The Byrne Family Lineage
           The Byrne Men in the Civil War

    This web site will be a way to record John P. Byrne and his family's history for those interested.  It will also be a way to get information to those wanting to attend, such as directions, maps, schedule etc., so continue to check back for updates.

NEW   There have been inquiries as to the acceptable attendance of modern & Veteran military organizations, patriotic groups or decendancy groups etc. This also includes youth organizations.  Yes, they are encouraged to attend, in uniform and with their colors.  The place for their group to stand at the Memphis cemetery will be to the right side of the road.  Check the photo and information on the Memphis Pictures link below.  For the adult male groups, they will need to bring their flag stands and be prepared to fall in for burial duty.  The funeral and burial will be of the post Civil War era with the Grand Army of the Republic representatives drawing from the GAR 1879 ritual for official "Burial of the Dead" services.  The grave will be  filled in with hand shovels by adult males beginning with the pallbearers, descendents of the 21st MO. Inf., Civil War reenactors(both USA & CSA) followed by other organizations or groups present that will be standing to the right side of the road.

NEW  On site registration for troops doing duties and those camping will be at the registration tent on the N.E. corner of the court house lawn.  A large posted map will help everyone find each other by marking locations on it.

    Pallbearers, Honor Guards, Escorts and Sentries.  If you would like to offer your services in any of these positions then please submit an email to the following email address.  Please include your name, address, phone number, reenacting Unit affiliation, descendent's organization affiliation and your ability to conform to representing the 21st MO. Inf.  You will first receive a form letter reply as to what is needed from you.  The John McNeil Camp # 62 of the Sons of Union Veterans is the military organizers for this.  johnbyrneburial@hotmail.com

   Encampment Locations.  If you have period tenting and need a location to camp, then you need to submit your name, address, phone number and reenacting Unit affiliation to the following email address.  For military guards and sentries with duties, their tenting locations will be at the Memphis Cemetary and Court House lawn.  Soon we will announce the location for the encampment for USA, CSA and civilian tents.  You will need to plan early to get on the list.  James Country Merchantile will be at that location with the list to show you your area to tent.  You also should plan to arrive no later than Thursday, May 26, 2004 to be ensured that you will be able to enter the town of Memphis.   johnstents@yahoo.com

    Parade Entries.  If your Unit is wanting to be in the 1 & 1/2 mile funeral parade route from the funeral home to the cemetary, then you need to have your Commander submit his name, address, phone number and your reenacting Unit's name, including an estimated head count, to the following email address.   Missouri Units will march first followed by other State's Units.  We may need to dispatch some of the other States Unit's to form the guards on the road of honor, keeping back the public and then fall in as the parade passes.  This is for both USA and CSA.  If you have drummers for cadence, they will need to have their drums covered with black crape. johnsparade@yahoo.com

    Horses and Conveyances.  This will be the time when the only mode of transportation to quickly get around will be by horse back or horse driven conveyances.  Individual Officers with their Infantry Units and Cavalry Units will be in the funeral parade.  If you have a horse driven conveyance, we are asking for your assistance in conveying the family and dignitaries from the funeral home to the cemetary and back.  We will need a head count on horses to be able to have water and feed available.  Please submit to the following email address your name, address, phone number, number of horses and type of conveyance that you are willing to offer.  This is USA, CSA and civilian.  johnsriders@yahoo.com

    Relatives of John P. Byrne Please submit your inquiries to webmaster@duvcw.org    They will be forwarded on to the family.

    New Descendents of 21st MO. Inf.   Dean Cunningham is the coordinator for the descendents.  Many are wanting to meet, share their stories and possibly form a group that will be able to keep in touch by submitting their names and which soldier they descend from.  Contact Dean at:
misterc4you@comcast.net

    Widows or those dressed in period mourning wishing to attend and pay their honors.  We have planned a very special ceremony for these ladies to take part in.  Please send your info as to what style of mourning attire that you will be wearing.  You will first receive a form letter reply as to what will be needed of you.   johnswidows@yahoo.com

      A schedule of the two days of activities will also soon be added.  Until then please contact the webmaster of the Daughters of Union Veterans as to any other questions or suggestions. webmaster@duvcw.org

    Please use the Forum below to submit your information and questions.  This will be the best way for you to get in contact with others such as relatives of the family, descendents of the 21st MO. Inf. or Reenacting Units sharing travel information etc.   We can not share your personal information, but you can on the Forum.

    James Country Merchantile is the official merchant and info center as to what you will need in the way of mourning attire.  They will also be on location for last minute purchases of black crape etc.  http://www.jamescountry.com/

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Webmaster's Note:  The main information will remain on one page for easier printing and passing out to others.  Links to the history and lives of John and his family members will be added soon.