The Melvin Memorial, as designed by Chester French, depicts a mourning angel over the graves of the three fallen civil war brothers who fought as soldiers. Her eyes are closed. In one hand she holds a laurel branch. In the other she holds an American flag, its stars only subtly visible, like a shroud over her head. It is at once a stirring depiction of strength and victory in death, yet, at the same time , a haunting and mournful statements on the tragedy of civil war.

Our country once again faces civil dissonance with signals of dire distress of extreme danger to life and property.