By WMBD-TV

PEKIN – Tazewell County voters will go to the polls next week to decide, among other things, if they want a monument to honor the three county residents who earned the nation’s highest military decoration for valor.

William Reed, John Ayers and Thomas Murphy earned the Medal of Honor for their actions in the 1863 Battle of Vicksburg during the Civil War.

And for years, there’s been little to show Tazewell County residents what these men did for their country during that heated battle.

“Here on the courthouse lawn, there is no marker, indicator at all, nothing, indicating their achievement of that highest recognition by our nation.” said Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman.

A ballot measure on Tuesday might change that. Voters will be asked if they want a monument to be put up for the three men who received the Medal.

The $80,000 project will not cost new money from taxpayers as the money has already been set aside by the Tazewell County Board.

“The county has more than that in reserves, they’ve said they need to find a way to utilize it, so it will not cost tax payers any additional tax payer’s funding for this.” Ackerman said.

Created during the Civil War, just over 3,500 soldiers, sailors and airmen have received the Medal of Honor in defense of the nation. The highest number of any war came during the Civil War.

If approved, the monument will be an 8-foot, black granite statue honoring the three recipients.

“It’ll have their individual photo, and then their biography on each of their three sides. The fourth side would have the description of the Battle of Vicksburg, why it’s a critical battle for our nation’s history and a brief history of the Medal of Honor itself. Explaining to people what is so special about this, our nation’s highest recognition.” the clerk said.

It’ll be placed next to the Veteran’s Memorial at the Tazewell County Courthouse. That location was chosen because that is where soldiers would sign up to fight for the Union Army.

Ackerman expressed why he feels its important to have this monument.

“The battle of Vicksburg is one of the most critical battles in our nation’s history. It is the turning point of the Civil War. All three of them received their Medal of Honor for their actions at the battle of Vicksburg,” he said.

If approved, the county board will have one year to fund the project, meaning it could be completed by fall 2025.

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