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Civil War vet honored 90 years late

Friday, April 21, 2006

April 21, 2006 (WLS) -- Private Leonard Syler finally got the military funeral he deserved Friday. He was a veteran of the Union army in the Civil War. His service to his country had long been forgotten until his great-great granddaughter discovered that one of her ancestors was a hero.

A funeral service and a 21-gun salute 90 years late for a Civil War veteran, Private Leonard Syler, but thanks to a local Civil War group, Syler finally received a proper burial.

When he died in 1916, Private Syler was buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Hammond, Indiana, but his grave was marked only by a number. There was no name and no headstone... No one knew that a Union soldier who served under General Grant was buried there.

"I was just in awe and I couldn't imagine why no one knew this," said Bonnie Syler.

After years of researching her family's genealogy, his great-great granddaughter Bonnie Syler made the discovery. She describes Private Syler as an American hero.

"He felt it was his common duty to serve. He didn't go for glory or any of that. He simply served his country to the best of his ability," Bonnie said.

After the Civil War Syler moved his family from Pennsylvania to the Chicago area. When Bonnie Syler learned her great-great grandfather was buried in Hammond, she contacted the Lake County veteran's office to set up a proper ceremony.

"It was very touching to have everybody participate the way they did," said Ernie Dillon, Lake County, Indiana, veterans service.

"God himself made it happen, because he wanted to remind us of all the sacrifices and all of the good work that the servicemen did for us," said Indiana Sen. Frank Mrvan, (D)-Hammond.

After the family unveiled the new headstone, people lined to lay flowers at the grave, paying their respects to a Civil War veteran none of them knew.

Private Syler was also a prisoner of war. He was captured by the Confederate army in 1864. The family is donating the flag they were given Friday to the Eastside Historical Society in Chicago.

It was a really nice service, but it probably should have happened back in 1916.

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