Middle Schoolers Work to Secure a Headstone for Forgotten Civil War Vet

When retired teacher Tim Archer learned that a Civil War veteran was buried in an unmarked grave near the middle school where he used to teach, he knew two people would be up for the challenge of researching the story: former students Mary McCormick and Kendall Peruzzini.
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The eighth graders spent their summer break digging into the history of Daniel Walterhouse, a Union soldier who ended up at the Orleans County Alms House, a place for the poor and infirmed, in Albion, New York. After uncovering military records and a photo showing the residents of the home, Mary and Kendall wanted to honor Walterhouse by getting a headstone for his grave.
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“I can infer he was a good person, I mean he helped with the Civil War, and he was obviously on the Union side, so he put a lot of work into abolishing slavery,” Mary told ABC affiliate WKBW. “I really wanted to give him a headstone, because of all he’s been through,” added Kendall.
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The duo has secured the support of the Orleans County Legislature in their pursuit of a headstone, and are now waiting on approval from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. “This is all wonderful, and something that when they’re my age, they will look back and find themselves in a news clip like this and be able to tell their children and grandchildren about it,” Archer said.