At a hastily arranged memorial service, Tom Callinan rose to the occasion, composing and performing an original song, " Jewett Williams' Journey ", at CCSU in New Britain, CT – his undergraduate alma mater . The song was written in honor of Private Jewett Williams,
a Civil War veteran of the famous 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment,
who was finally going home to Maine.

After surviving the war, Private Williams headed west as the United States expanded, and died in an Oregon State Hospital in 1922. However, his cremains were unclaimed, and unburied – stored in a locked room for 94 years.  Learning about the plan to return his ashes for a proper military funeral in Maine, hundreds of Patriot Guard Riders scrambled to respectfully transport his cremains in a cross-country relay back home, with stops at Appomattox Courthouse in VA; Gettysburg, PA; CCSU in New Britain; Warwick, RI; Hadley, MA; and Portsmouth, NH - before being interred at the Togus National Veterans Cemetery – the final resting place for many of Maine ' s honored Civil War veterans.

With Private Williams' flag-draped cremains in the foreground,
Tom was introduced by CCSU History Professor, Matt Warshauer, PhD.,
Co-Chair of the Connecticut Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission

Dressed in the uniform of a Union infantry musician, Tom prepares to sing
" Jewett Williams' Journey ", composed especially for the occasion.

The two photos above were posted by Sarah on the CT Patriot Guard Riders website.

Anyone who might be interested in purchasing a commemorative CD of " Jewett Williams' Journey ", should send $10. via PayPal to limberjack@comcast.net

That includes First-Class postage. Upon receipt of payment, it will be sent out ASAP.

For further information, contact CRACKERBARREL ENTERTAINMENTS:

(860) 889-6648 or Info@Crackerbarrel-Ents.com