Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-06-29
GRANITE MEMORIAL UNVEILED BY TAFT IN HONOR 0F
 STEPHENSON

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 2s.-- The last public function which Presi dent Taft will attend before his depar- ture for the summer capital near Bev- erly, Mass, will be the unveiiing and dedication of the granite memorial erected here in honor of Dr. B. F. Stephenson, founder of the Grand Army of the Republic. The ceremony will take place on Saturday afternoon and President Taft and Representative j.. Hampton Moore of Pennsylvania will be the orators of the occasion.
 All the regular troops of the city will participate in the parade and ded- ication ceremonies and Brig. Gen. w. w. Wetherspoon will be grand marshal. General Wood, commanding the depart ment of the east, has ordered the fol- lowing troops to take part: Head quarters band and three troops, 10th Cavalry and the 2nd battalion of the 3rd field artillery at Fort Myer; the Engineer band and companies A and B, lst battalion of engineers, Washing ton barracks, and two companies of the Coast Artillery corps of Fort Wash ington, Maryland. Major F. s. Foltz, 18th cavalry, win have command of the regular troops.
 The memorial is on the circular park of the east side of Eth street, at the in- tersection of Louisiana and Pennsyl- vania avenues. It was designed by J. Massey Rhind a New York sculptor, and consists of tall triangular shaft of gray granite with bronze reliefs on the three sides, representing fraternity, charity and loyalty, the principles of the Grand Army of the republic.
 The erection of this monument is the first and rather belated attempt to honor the memory of the man who founded the Grand Army of the Repub- lie. The movement for the erection of memorial to him was first suggested few years ago by Col. John McElroy, who had joined the army when he was boy and had served in the l6th Hi nois cavalry. Colonel McElroy labored indefatigably to interest the Grand army and other patriotic organizations for his plan and it was principally due to his efforts that the Grand army and the Woman s Relief corps contributed the necessary funds for the purpose.
 Benjamin Franklin Stephenson was born in Wayne county, Illinois, O"tober 90, 1922. In 1925 his parents removed to Sangamon county, where he grew to manhood. He graduated from Rush Medical college in 1850, and began to practice at Petersburg, III. In 1861 he was elected surgeon of the l4th III inois infantry and he served with his regiment until June 2t, 1864, wher he was mustered out, At the close of the war he returned to his practice and established himself at Springfield, Ill
 During Sherman 's expedition to Mer idian in February, 1864, Stephenson and the Rev. Wm. J. Rutledge, chaplain of the l4th Iilionis infantry, discussed the plan of forming an association among those who had served in the un ion army or navy during the civil war that would preserve the friendships | formed among comrades and keep alive | the memories of their common trials 1 ard dangers. In March, 1866, the two met by appointment in Springfield ant l further discussed the matter. The first post was organized at Decatur, III April 6, 1866. The first national en campment was held in Indianapolis Ind, beginning on November 20, 1866 It was a grievous disappointment tt Dr. Stephenson when representatives ! of the Grand army, assembled al Springfield, H., to form department