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"Honor Meeting Honor"

On April 21, 2001, members of the Hupp-Deyerle-McCausland Chapter 237 Military Order of the Stars & Bars, Sons of Confederate Veterans from the Fincastle Rifles, the Botetourt Artillery, and the Stonewall Camp gathered to honor the monument for Major David P. Heckman of the 57th Virginia Infantry, Co. C.
Henry Fisher (left) is the great-great grandson of Major Heckman and has worked hard cleaning up the family cemetery located in Franklin County, Virginia. Henry has plans to erect a flag pole at his ancestor's gravesite where a Confederate Battle Flag will fly in lasting tribute.

Henry F. Fisher
Member:
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Military Order of the Stars & Bars

The Marker Dedication of Major David Painter Heckman
57th Virginia Infantry, Co. C - Army of Northern Virginia

Biography

   David Painter Heckman was born May 5, 1831 at Boones Mill in Franklin County, Virginia. On Friday July 21, 1861 at Higgs Field, Long Branch, Franklin County, VA he organized for service in the War Between The States, a company which was later designated Company C, 57th Regiment of Stewarts Brigade, called "The Franklin Fire Eaters."
    David was appointed Lieutenant, then promoted to the rank of Captain becoming Company Commander. On July 3, 1863 he led his men at Gettysburg in "Pickett's Charge." He was wounded and his brother William was killed. On July 5, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of Major. He was captured at Dinwiddie Court House on March 1, 1865 and sent to Old Capitol Prison in Washington, DC; then to Johnson's Island located on Lake Errie in Ohio on April 9, 1865.
    When he returned to Franklin County after the war he started farming and was half owner of a Grist Mill. He never spoke of the "War" again. He practiced medicine for many years traveling on horseback with saddlebags filled with small vials of drugs. He was known as an exceedingly kind and generous, and wise man, a counselor, speaking harshly of no one, having a deep faith in God.