A formal Civil War Trails marker, the official seal of significance of a war-related site, was unveiled Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Warrenton Cemetery in a ceremony witnessed by about 90 people.

The unveiling, performed by Del. Scott Lingamfelter, culminated a 45-minute ceremony which included an invocation by Rev. T.L. Crowder, a ride-by saber salute from the Black Horse Cavalry Troop, and historic readings by Town Councilman Powell Duggan, Judge H. Dudley Payne; sheriff’s Lt. Mike "Moose" Miller (standing in for ailing Sheriff Charlie Ray Fox), and historic interpreters Dan Carr, Bruce Slawter, Gary Carroll and Del. Lingamfelter.

Town Councilman Yakir Lubowsky, president of the Fauquier Historical Society, welcomed spectators and explained that the sign, which commemorates historically significant people buried in the cemetery, was over three years in the making. The researching, writing, producing, obtaining CWT approval, fabricating and finally installing the sign consumed a period nearly as long as the war itself.

Dan Carr, portraying Confederate Gen. L.L. Lomax, addreses the audience as fellow speakers (from left) Yakir Lubowsky, Gary Carroll (as Mosby) and Judge H. Dudley Payne listen.

Lubowsky told the crowd it was all worth the effort, calling the Warrenton Cemetery "a motherlode of American history.”

Success, he said, involved a diverse and collective effort and showed the community at its best.

There was patient debate over how to refer to slaves who had been pressed into service by the Confederacy and fresh research into whether John Q. Marr of Warrenton was the first Southern officer to be killed in the ward -- or the first soldier of any rank to perish.

More than 30 local authorities offered opinions on the sign’s wording.Many contributed. Lubowsky singled out Dink Godfrey for providing early guidance, the late Todd Benson for chairing the County's Sesquicentennial Committee, Lory and Larry Payne for leadership in preserving county cemeteries and county Tourism Director Catherine Payne for finding the funding and working tirelessly toward successful conclusion of the project.

The sign ceremony followed the Warrrenton/Fauquier Heritage Day 2011 parade down Main Street.

The cemetery marker is the third such sign in Warrenton. The other two stand at Brentmoor (the Mosby House) and at the Old Jail Museum).