Melvin Memorial, Concord, Mass.

Three brothers of Concord's Melvin family went off to the Civil War. Only one returned, and he commissioned famed sculptor Daniel Chester French to design a fitting memorial for the brothers' and the family's sacrifice.

French sculpted the "Mourning Victory," among the most eloquent of his works, perfectly suited to portray the nobility of the brothers' sentiments, the tragedy of their sacrifice, and the bittersweet poignancy of victory in the cause for which they gave their lives.

The figure of Victory emerges from the stone, a look on her face of profound sadness and the numbness of long grief. In her hand is an oak branch to award to the victors—but they are gone.

The Melvin Memorial is at an intersection of three lanes within Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, only a short distance from the main auto gate. On the hill behind it is the grave of its maker, Daniel Chester French.

In winter, the "Mourning Victory" is shrouded by a heavy waterproof cover to protect it from deterioration by the elements, and is thus not visible. Visit in the warm months.

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