In the years following the battle, this hill became sacred ground. A new patriotic spirit swept the nation in the 1820s, and Americans looked to honor the sacrifice and service of their ancestors. For two decades, many men and women, led by the Bunker Hill Monument Association, worked to raise funds for a suitable memorial. On June 17, 1843, over 100,000 people gathered here for the dedication of the Bunker Hill Monument. Statesman and orator Daniel Webster spoke to the crowd, which included John Tyler and the last living veterans of the battle.