WORCESTER, Mass. - The neighborhood around Polar Park is evolving, and a dedication ceremony Sunday was another step in the process.

City leaders and veterans groups gathered at the Rockland Trust Plaza on Green Street for the dedication of the General Josiah Pickett Memorial Grove. A plaque honors Pickett, who was a member of the 25th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. During the war, he was arrested and relieved of his command for insubordination, but Pickett's bravery during the Battle of Cold Harbor ultimately led to his promotion to general. He's believed to have been the only man to be promoted and honorably discharged while under arrest.

"I would say the most important thing is that he was undaunted in trying to be stopped from defending the union," said Kevin Tucker, who is the 1st Military District Commander for the Sons of Veterans Reserve. "He was a proud Worcester man. Originally, Governor Andrew was going to appoint someone from New York to lead the 25th. He went down and lobbied that person that was appointed not to accept the commission and force Governor Andrew to appoint a Worcester, not himself, but another Worcester citizen to lead the regiment. Eventually, he took over the regiment itself and led it into glory at Cold Harbor, one of the worst battle ever for the union in the Civil War."

Following his time in the Worcester City Guards, General Pickett worked in the Boston Custom House, and later served as Worcester's postmaster for 20 years. He was appointed by President Andrew Johnson. Pickett died in 1908 at the age of 85. He's buried in Worcester's Rural Cemetery.