Echoes from Riverside “Gone, But Not Forgotten”
Riverside Cemetery Annual Historic Walk
 

Posted 09/04/09

Take a leisurely stroll back in time and visit with some of Moline’s early citizens as local, costumed thespians bring the characters to life in the history-rich drama of Echoes from Riverside, “Gone, But Not Forgotten”. The annual Riverside Cemetery walk will be held on Saturday, September 26, from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Cost is $3.00 per person, with children 12 and under free.

Tours begin from the Riverside Cemetery Chapel Mausoleum, 2900 – 6th Avenue. The first tour leaves at 1 pm, with the last tour leaving at 3 pm. Transportation is provided to the starting point of the program, and then it is a guided walking tour (1 ½ hour) from that point on. Tickets may be purchased the day of the walk at Riverside Chapel Mausoleum. Refreshments will be available. Rain date is September 27th.

This year’s theme is veterans. Moline has a long history of patriotism and the walk brings to light the stories of the sacrifices made by Moline residents over the last 150 years in the course of freedom and country.

Historical characters to be portrayed include:
-Laura Holmes McKeever, (1852-1909), Wife of Elliot McKeever, Corporal, Co. L 9th Ohio Cavalry, Civil War Veteran (played by Dorothy White)
-John Wesley Rodgers, (1832-1904), Attached as cook to Co. H 8th Kansas Volunteer Infantry, Civil War Veteran (played by Eudell Watts)
-Elizabeth Smith Manley, (1836-1885), Wife of James Manley, Private Co. I 8th IL Volunteer Infantry, Civil War Veteran (played by Kathleen Seusy)
-Sampson M. Kennedy, (1839-1917), Private Battery A 1st IL Artillery, Civil War Veteran (played by Bob White)
-Edward Kittilsen, (1854-1939), Colonel 6th Regular IL Infantry, Spanish American War Veteran (played by Dennis Harker)
-William G. Rueckert, (1920-1944), First Lieutenant Air Corps. World War II Veteran (played by Karl Allemeier)
-Arvid Ernest Kohler, (1873-1941), Captain Medical Corps. World War I Veteran (played by Bill Hannan)
The “Unknown”, (Dedicated by the Eliza Garfield Tent 22) Eulogy and Salute to the victims of all wars (played by Ann Boaden)