Remembering Irish-American Sacrifice: Arsenal Monument Wreath Laying

On March 27, Historic Congressional Cemetery invites the public to join us in a remembrance and wreath laying ceremony at the Arsenal Monument, honoring the Irish immigrant women who lost their lives in the tragic Washington Arsenal explosion during the Civil War.

In June 1864, a catastrophic explosion tore through the Washington Arsenal, killing young women and girls who had stepped into industrial work traditionally reserved for men while the nation was at war. Most of them were Irish immigrants serving their adoptive country while many of their husbands fought in the Union Army. Their labor supported the Union cause and their deaths shook the capital. Today, their memory endures beneath the towering Arsenal Monument at Congressional Cemetery, a lasting testament to sacrifice, service, and immigrant contributions to America.

This year’s commemoration will feature remarks from Executive Director Mark Hudson and Her Excellency Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States. Ambassador Nason will lay the ceremonial wreath at the monument in honor of the women whose lives were cut short in service to their adopted nation.

The Arsenal Monument stands not only as a memorial to tragedy, but as a reminder of the essential role immigrant women played in shaping Washington, D.C., and the United States. Their story reflects courage in the face of hardship and underscores the enduring ties between Ireland and America.

All are welcome to attend this free public ceremony as we gather to reflect and remember.

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Host or Publisher Historic Congressional Cemetery