Col. Robert Gould Shaw - Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Watertown, MA - Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

In Watertown, in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, by the Bigelow Chapel, is the Shaw family monument, which has a special tablet dedicated to Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.

The tablet has the following text:

"This tablet is in memory of
Robert Gould Shaw
Colonel 54th Massts Infantry
Fell at Fort Wagner S.C.
And was there buried, July 18th, 1863.
Aged 25 years 9 months.
__
'Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for
his friends.'"

Col. Shaw is best known as the leader of the all-black infantry, the Massachusetts 54th infantry, depicted in the movie, 'Glory' (1989). According to the Wikipedia article for Shaw, he lived October 10, 1837 – July 18, 1863. The Shaw family were known abolitionists who lived in Massachusetts. He attended Harvard University; however, he had dropped out (his name is listed in the university's Memorial Hall, as well). When the Civil War broke out, he first enlisted with a regiment that spent 30 days in Washington, D.C., then joined the Massachusetts 2nd Infantry as 2nd lieutenant. He was approached by his father to lead an all-black regiment. Robert Shaw initially rejected the request, but after careful consideration and being impressed by their abilities, he decided to be their commander. He became major, then colonel in 1863. The unit was called to duty with other units to capture Fort Warren (Warren Battery, as called in Wikipedia). The effort failed and he was shot outside of the fort. He was buried in a mass grave near the site.

The Shaw family placed a tablet in their family monument at Mt. Auburn Cemetery. Every year, they gather for a remembrance ceremony on his birthday. On the weekend when I visited, there were flowers at the base of the monument and a small American flag to the right.

The cemetery is located on Mt. Auburn Street, right at the Watertown-Cambridge line, near the intersection with Belmont Street. Once you enter the gate, find a place to park (not easy, mind the signs), and get a map which is located in an alcove within the gate, or at the nearby cemetery office. The memorial is facing a garden area in front of Bigelow Chapel, and near the Sphinx monument.

Website pertaining to the memorial: [Web Link] List if there are any visiting hours: Generally daylight hours, when Mt. Auburn Cemetery is open. The Cemetery office is open 8:30AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. On Saturdays the office is open for Cemetery business from 8:30 AM to noon and information is available through 4 PM. Entrance fees (if it applies): 0.00 Type of memorial: Plaque

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