Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel

Soon after the close of the Civil War, a number of citizens of Marion formed a Soldiers and Sailors Monumental Association. The association’s object was to raise funds for the construction of a suitable monument to perpetuate the memory of the brave men, who in the hour of our country’s danger, protected the country and flag they loved so well.   

After much discouragement and finding that sufficient funds could not be raised, they resorted to taxation. A bill was introduced into the Legislature and quickly passed, authorizing the Marion County Commissioners to levy a tax of one mill. This, in time, furnished ample means to build the monument. The Monumental Association, decided to construct the monument on land donated by the Marion Cemetery Association.

The restoration of the Soldiers & Sailors Chapel at Marion Cemetery is one of those projects that quietly carries enormous meaning — not just as preservation work, but as an act of remembrance. The investment of more than $850,000 by the Marion County Commissioner in 2026 signals how seriously Marion County takes its responsibility to honor the people whose names are carved into those marble walls.

The project was extensive—addressing structural wear, preserving historic materials, and ensuring the chapel remains a dignified memorial space for future generations.

Inside the chapel, over 2,000 names of soldiers and sailors are carved into the marble walls. These inscriptions honor individuals connected to Marion County who served—many of them in the Civil War, though the chapel’s memorial scope spans multiple eras.

Marion Cemetery has made a significant effort to cross‑check and verify every name, ensuring accuracy and historical integrity. However, many names have been found misspelled, and repeated on the walls.

The table below will allow you check the names engraved on the walls.

Chapel Names