A ceremony dedicating the Civil War Monument at the Courthouse in Middlebourne will take place on May 30 at 2 p.m.

The monument will honor those Tyler Countians that dedicated part of their lives fighting in the War Between the States, one of the bloodiest the country has known.

Funds for the monument were donated by descendants of soldiers as well as local businesses and individuals from all over the United States interested in seeing a monument erected honoring Tyler County soldiers in the Civil War.

Efforts have been made to authenticate the era of the Civil War during the dedication, with a Civil War Reenactment Group, the firing of a cannon, as well as featured speaker “President Abraham Lincoln” (portrayed by actor/artist Fritz Klein).

Guest speakers scheduled to speak at the dedication ceremony are Mike Myer, Managing Editor of the Wheeling News Register; Roger Romine, WV State Representative; Charles Smith, Tyler County Commissioner; Barry Harter, ancestor of Theopholis Harter; and Frances Tippins.

Tyler Consolidated High School’s band will be in attendance to perform as will members representing Civil War Reenactment groups and Veterans organizations.

The monument itself has 173 names engraved on it including Medal of Honor winners, doctors and pastors.

The base of the black granite monument is 24″x24″ wide and 16″ high and the spire is 6′,6″ tall. The names are engraved on the spire.

The front of the monument reads, “This monument has been dedicated in memory of Tyler County Soldiers who participated in the War Between the States from 1861-1865. This war resulted in the birth of the great state of West Virginia”.

The public is invited to the dedication of the monument.