Ben Salmon died of pneumonia on February 15th, 1932 during the Depression and was buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois in the grave located at Section 26, Block 1, Lot 144. No marker was placed on the grave.
The Friends of Franz and Ben collected donations to place a marker on Ben's grave, and on All Saints Day, 2017 the marker shown in the header was placed on Ben's grave. The photo above shows the marker shortly after it was finished by Bertacchi and Sons of Chicago. They also placed the marker in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
The Friends of Franz and Ben collected donations to place a marker on Ben's grave, and on All Saints Day, 2017 the marker shown in the header was placed on Ben's grave. The photo above shows the marker shortly after it was finished by Bertacchi and Sons of Chicago. They also placed the marker in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
|
Thanks to all who sent donations and especial thanks to Professor Charles DiCola of DePaul University who did all the leg work of determining Mt. Carmel policy for headstones, coordinating marker construction with the monument maker, and providing the photo on the left of Ben's stone in place at Ben's grave.
|
Ben's daughter, Maryknoll Sister Elizabeth Salmon, said of the stone: "Dad's "Gravestone" is just BEAUTIFUL!! Would that his words could be HEARD BY "ALL" --- & ACTED UPON!!" Now Ben's words have been cast in stone and are available for visitors to Mt. Carmel to read and follow up on.
The cost of the stone did not deplete the Memorial Fund. The Friends of Franz and Ben plan to use the remaining funds as scholarships to promote Ben's message in schools and are working to finalize the plan.
The cost of the stone did not deplete the Memorial Fund. The Friends of Franz and Ben plan to use the remaining funds as scholarships to promote Ben's message in schools and are working to finalize the plan.
|
As of July 19, 2017 contributions of $5483.00 were donated to the Memorial Fund from: Fr. Bernard Survil Mark Scibilia-Carver Jack Gilroy Anonymous Jim Clune Fred Daley Helena Garan Dick Keough The Murphy Family Jorge Elveradero William Paccone Neil Himber George McAnnama Fr. David Brant Judith A. Kelly David and Barbara Corcoran Anonymous Jim and Shelley Douglas Mary's House John Mando Tim Musser Anonymous Dan Gilroy Sue Gomez Father Bob Bonnot Chicago Chapter of the Intl Thomas Merton Society Thomas McCormick Gilda Krampf |
The photo above (also provided by Charles DiCola) shows Ben Salmon's gravesite in summer of 2017 before the marker was placed.
|