The following was posted on the "[log in to unmask]" eList
by David Roberts ([log in to unmask]):

In this month's [May 2001]  "Civil War News" there is a article on a ceremony
to be held on Sunday May 27th to honor the first Jewish soldier to be awarded
the "Medal of Honor."

Benjamin B. Levy [1845-1921] served in the 1st & later in the 40th New York.
He received the medal for his actions on 30 June 1862 at the Battle of
Charles City Crossroads in Virginia [during McClellan's 1862 Peninsula
Campaign]. He was only 17 at the time. General Philip Kearny promoted him
from private to color sergeant.

The Jewish War Veterans is sponsoring the ceremony at Cypress Hills National
Cemetery, 833 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, starting at 11:00 a. m.  The ceremony
will be in the "private section" of the cemetery. A new gravestone will be
dedicated and a Medal of Honor marker will be placed on Levy's grave.

The article says you can contact Julian Batlan 732/431-1514 or
[log in to unmask] for more information on the memorial ceremony.

The article also states that the Jewish War Veterans is America's oldest
active veterans organization, having been founded by Jewish veterans of the
Civil War.

David Roberts appended the following question, "The article didn't say if
Jews from both sides founded the group or just Jews from the Union Army.
Anybody know?"

If you know the answer, please reply to the list and I'll foward same to
David Roberts.

Thanks.

Walter Greenspan