CIVIL WAR BURIAL CEREMONY
OCTOBER 16, 2025
City of Pawtucket, we will honor and lay to rest the cremains of Byron R. Johnson, a Pawtucket native and Union soldier who served in the U.S. Civil War as a Hospital Steward with the 11th Rhode Island Infantry.
This ceremony is more than just a tribute to a soldier—it is a profound moment in our city’s history. Byron’s cremains, which have been in storage in Seattle since 1913, are finally coming home to be reunited with his family here in Pawtucket. With the support of the Missing in America Project, a nonprofit dedicated to returning the remains of forgotten veterans, we are honored to bring Byron to his final resting place.
This may be one of the last Civil War soldier burials in the country, making this event both rare and significant. It connects us directly to our past and allows us to honor not just Byron, but all of Pawtucket’s contributions to the Union during that tumultuous time in American history. Byron’s life, like that of so many others, is woven into the fabric of our city and our nation.
I encourage you to attend and be part of this solemn and historic occasion. Together, we will reflect on the legacy of service and sacrifice that defines both Byron and the many veterans who have made Pawtucket proud. This is a moment for us all to gather as a community, honor our shared history, and show our respect for those who fought to preserve the freedoms we hold dear today.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Warm regards,
Donald R. Grebien
Mayor, City of Pawtucket