The significant word UNKNOWN

A photo of some of the "unknown" soldiers at Gettysburg.

Journaling says:
Walt Whitman said the Civil War made the designation "unknown" significant. During the Civil War accurate accounting of the wounded and dead was nearly impossible. There were no dog tags, official forms of identification or grave registration units. As a result nearly 40% of Union soldiers perished with only the name "unknown." Gettysburg National Cemetery is the final resting place for over 3,500 Union soldiers who died during the battle. Among them are 979 unknown soldiers whose graves are marked only by a small marble square and number. Identifying bodies during the Civil War was usually done by friends, comrades, or through personal effects found on the body, but often the name of the victim was still unknown. There are countless stories of soldiers who before battles would write their name on a piece of paper to be placed in their pocket as an attempt to make sure if they fell their name would not be lost. The casualty lists reported back home were highly inaccurate. Families were eager for any information about their loved ones, but many never learned where or how their loved ones perished and never knew where their bodies were laid to rest. Death had stripped so many men of their name, leaving them as “unknown.” Never before has that word held so much significance. To see the number of “unknown” graves is heartbreaking. There lies someone who bravely made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, but whose identity and memory is reduced to a single word and number. It is important to remember all those who gave their lives especially those who rest beneath the word “unknown.”

Credits
Documentary by Sahlin Studio
Autumn afternoon papers by Sahlin Studio