Two local men deserve praise for making sure that another man from the area — albeit one who was born 180 years ago — gets his overdue recognition.

Chad Slater, a Civil War re-enactor, and Jason Tindall, the commander of Butler’s VFW Post 249, are undertaking a project with the aim that Andrew Williams, a Civil War veteran and state legislator from Butler, gets his due.

We often hear the expression “never forget” in regard to the sacrifices made and the struggles veterans face when they return home from war. But it’s rare when someone does something about it.

Slater and Tindall are in the process of working to have a military headstone placed on Williams’ grave in the North Side Cemetery at 1002 N. Main St. nearly 100 years after his death.

While researching Williams — about whom he learned while reading a history of the 63rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, a re-enactment group named after an actual Union infantry from Pittsburgh — Slater learned that Williams tried to raise a company of men to join the 63rd, but couldn’t find enough.

He was told to bring his men to Harrisburg, where additional recruits were added to his company.

Williams signed on as a private, rather than accepting a captaincy, and was later made lieutenant. He was wounded four times during the war.

Upon returning home, he worked as an attorney, bookkeeper and notary republic before forming a law office that lasted for 40 years.

In 1891, he was elected to the state House of Representatives, and then served six years in the state Senate. He died 97 years ago.

While Slater speculated that the reason Williams’ grave isn’t the three-and-a-half-foot-high military gravestone to which he is entitled is due to the man’s humble nature, he believes he deserves one.

We agree. Williams volunteered to serve his country, was wounded four times for it and went on to live an accomplished life.

“He’s owed this,” Tindall told the Eagle.

Regardless of whether Williams would want the accolades for his service, he deserves them.

We’re glad to see these two local men taking part in such a worthy project.

While the expression “never forget” is often used to describe honoring sacrifices made and courage showed in times of war, Williams’ story is one in which heroism has gone unrecognized.

We’re glad that’s being rectified.

— NCD