The sacrifices of 360,000 Union Army soldiers who fell during the bitter fighting of the Civil War didn't go unheeded by the descendants of Union Army Veteran Amos Jones.
In the ensuing years, motivated by the sacrifices of the men who died and were wounded on such battlefields as Manassas, Bull Run and Gettysburg, his son, William, and his granddaughter, Vera Fennell, became members and were eventually elected to the top posts of Civil War organizations.
William Jones was the national commander of the Sons of Veterans of the Civil War, and Vera Fennell the national president of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Vera Jones Fennell, a resident of Delmont and a former resident of Greensburg, died from complications of old age on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2001, in Jeannette District Memorial Hospital. She was 90.
The GAR, which was established in 1866 after the end of the Civil War, had by 1890 attained a membership of 409,487 Civil War veterans. Although nonpolitical, but strongly Republican, the membership had enough political clout to secure legislation that eventually would establish Memorial Day as a national holiday. It also was responsible for establishing old soldier's [sic] homes and hospitals.
Born in McKeesport, Vera Jones was one of three children of the family of William and Laura Abbott Jones. Her father was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad (Conrail).
After graduation from Wilkinsburg High School, she received her two-year teaching certificate from California State Teachers College. For years, she taught elementary education in the Kiski Area School District. Her husband, Floyd Fennell, who died in 1954, also was a schoolteacher in the New Alexandria area.
In later years, Mrs. Fennell returned to school and earned her bachelor's degree in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Her son-in-law, Ralph Beemer, recalled Mrs. Fennell's devotion to the Grand Army of the Republic.
"Vera was also president of the Pennsylvania Department of the GAR. In later years, when her father came to live with her, they both traveled to GAR encampments, first throughout the state and later throughout the country, including the facility in Swissvale."
Mrs. Fennell also was an active member of Congruity Presbyterian Church, where her three daughters attended Sunday school and later sang in the church choir.
Mrs. Fennell is survived by her daughters; a sister; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a son; a stepson; a brother; and a grand-daughter.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today in the Vale Funeral Home Inc., Twin Valley, 463 Athena Drive, Delmont, with the Rev. H. Clifton Foster of Congruity Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment in Westmoreland Memorial Park.