Hello. The one that I ordered was free and the people I ordered it through, placed it for free.
The government will be paying for it, so the man who sold it wil be receiving payment, so you
are sure to get placement also.
Most people are happy to be part of such a marking especially I would guess in the South.
As far as your ancestor being a Union soldier, do not worry, a lot of men did that in his area
of the state. If you did not feel it, you kept your mouth closed for survival I would imagine.
My ggg grandmother's brother, a Guthrie, deserted the 35th Arkansas CSA in Little Rock,
in the spring and by fall he had joined up with the Union Cav.
Of course the man already had a brother captured, one killed at Shiloh, a brother
-in-law who would die in the Yankee prison later just as his brother would, so if nothing else
there was motivation to consider changing. He also had a wife and three little girls at home.
It is not ours to question is the way I feel about it.
So no bake sales are needed and neither should you have to pass the hat.
Proof will be the main thing and they are not real difficult on that point either. I just
filled out the papers/request that I got through the local library using the man's obit
and requested the marker. It arrived and now stands in the local cemetery.
As far as the existing marker goes, the folks used what they had. Now it is your turn
to pick up the project and go forward.
Good luck and congratulations on making the journey.
Linda