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Whiting, Vermont: Wayward Monument to Admiral Emmons

A tombstone-like monument stands next to a rural road honoring U.S. Rear Admiral George Foster Emmons, but he's not buried here, never visited here, and left Vermont long before he became an admiral.

Address:
Hwy 30, Whiting, VT
Directions:
Beside the road, on the west side of Hwy 30 a half-mile south of downtown Whiting (the post office and church). Opposite the monument is a building with three large garage doors.
Admission:
Free
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Mystery grave of Admiral Emmons.

Odd Monument to U.S. Admiral Emmons

In a field along the west side of Route 30, located across the highway from the Whiting Elementary School, is a small, weathered 19th-century stone monument honoring Clarendon native Rear Admiral George Foster Emmons, U.S.N. Why the monument is situated more than 20 miles from Emmons' Clarendon birthplace has never been adequately explained by local historians. Emmons never visited Whiting and abandoned Vermont at an early age to pursue his naval career. Emmons is credited as being the first man to unfurl the stars and stripes over the territory of Alaska.

[Louis Varricchio, 11/04/2004]

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In the region:
Earth Clock: Mini-Stonehenge, Burlington, VT - 41 mi.

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