Daniel S. Milliken Quarter Gunner on the USS New Ironsides was award the Nation’s highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, in 1870 for his heroic deeds on the USS New Ironsides during the Battle for Fort Fisher on December 25, 1864 and from Jan 13th through Jan 15th of 1865. After the Civil War, Daniel Milliken married in Aug of 1866 a Raymond girl, Ezelia Edwards, and moved to Raymond, Maine, to become a farmer. It is noted that he was hospitalized in Togus in 1890 and died of consumption in 1899.
Today, Daniel Milliken is remembered
with only a simple VA white marble stone in Riverside Cemetery in Raymond, with
his name and the date of his death in 1899. Little more. But a lot more is
known about Daniel that beguiles the simple setting in the cemetery. A National
Medal of Honor Organization (that prefers no publicity) contacted the Town of
Raymond a few years back with the thought of recognizing Daniel Milliken for
his honored status. The appropriate paperwork was submitted to the VA. Due to
changes in submission requirements, the VA did not honor the request.
Now, moving forward to January 2015 when
that same organization contacted the Local Field-Allen American Legion Post 148
in Windham (which has many Raymond members) and requested help in recognizing
Daniel Milliken and honoring him with an appropriate marker on his grave in
Riverside Cemetery. To that end the Field-Allen Post has garnished additional
Veterans support from the Local VFW 10643 Post as well as the Windham and
Raymond/Casco Historical Societies and the Town of Raymond to honor this
request. Plans are in their infancy, but, the following actions will be
accomplished with veteran and hopefully local public support:
One: Design and cut an appropriate
footstone with an image of the USS New Ironsides (The first US Battleship) and
a replication of the Medal of Honor surrounded by information about Daniel and
the Battle of Fort Fisher.
Two: hold a suitable public honors and
recognition ceremony for this local hero at Riverside Cemetery when the stone
is to be installed.
Three: Have a GAR marker installed at
the grave to recognize Daniel Milliken as a Civil War Veteran.
Hopefully all this can come together
around Memorial Day 2015.
To date over $300.00 has been pledged to
meet this goal with several organizations still to donate. The estimated cost
for the memorial is $1,200.00. Public donations from the Windham/Raymond area
may be made in support of this most worthy project to: American Legion Post
148, PO Box 1776, Windham ME 04062 (Medal of Honor fund) or, see Raymond Town
Clerk Sue Look.
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