To the Editor:

Just off Woodstock Street in the heart of Crystal Lake stands a faithful Union soldier, cast in zinc, which has been steadfastly on guard at Union Cemetery since 1889. According to the plaque on his base, he was “Erected by grateful citizens, in honor of the brave defenders of our country.”

Time, weather, and individuals had not been easy on this soldier. The structural integrity of the statue had been compromised by exposure to the elements. Cracks had formed, and water infiltrated the interior of the monument. The base was bulging from the stress, and the figure of the soldier was leaning backward in a precarious position.