Application approved for a headstone on the unmarked grave of Civil War soldiers

ALBION, NY (WKBW) – Civil War Union soldier Daniel Walterhouse may have died 100 years ago, but his memory is alive and well, all thanks to two Albion middle school students, Kendall Peruzzini and Mary McCormick.

Walterhouse is among many buried in unmarked graves at the Orleans County Alms House Cemetery in Albion.

Albion Vet. Civil War — According to the Historical Marker Database, the Orleans County Alms “Poor” House has served the poor, destitute and infirm of this community for over a century. For many, this cemetery has become their final resting place, marked with either a simple stone and a number, or no marker at all.

Earlier this month, after Peruzzini and McCormick received word from their former teacher, Tim Archer, that Walterhouse was buried a few miles away from Carl I. Bergerson Middle School with no recognition for his service. The girls got down to business and found everything they could, from military records to a group picture of them.

Peruzzini and McCormick felt so passionate that they took that stone request to the Orleans Legislature and received their full support. They then applied for a headstone at the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

A spokesperson for the Albion Central School District confirmed to 7 News on Friday that the Department of Veterans Affairs has approved the request and the headstone will be delivered within weeks.

You can watch our previous report below and read more here.

Albion 8th graders request headstone on unmarked Civil War soldier’s grave