– Contributed By: MICHAEL GUNN | CCSAR
Two members of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (CCSAR) spent some time recently taking advantage of the good weather to prepare for honoring some Revolutionary War Patriots buried in Colerain Township cemeteries.
The Olive Branch Methodist Cemetery on Blue Rock Road and the Dunlap Cemetery on East Miami River Road each were discovered to have an unmarked grave containing a Revolutionary War Patriot.
Gregory Ballman and Michael Gunn, both members of the CCSAR Patriot Graves Committee, did some digging for a concrete foundation at these locations to accommodate 60 lb. granite stones with a SAR insignia and the names of H. Loar and E. Danford.
The stones were lain flat to the ground and the plots were then restored, awaiting for the April 22 Ceremony.
They reported that one more visit will be required to place additional soil around each stone as there will likely be some settling between now and April.
The 1’ X 1’ X 5” Grey granite Grave Markers were purchased by the CCSAR Membership for the Patriot Graves Committee this past year. The Dedication Ceremony will add to the nearly 100 Revolutionary War Patriots similarly honored by CCSAR since 2014.
The CCSAR Graves Committee has been enabled by Tom Bosarge with Colerain Township.
Public Services and members of the Coleraine Township Historical Society on the preparation for the April 22 Ceremony. Colerain Township Police assisted with traffic control for the Blue Rock Road work around a sharp bend near the cemetery.
We are excited about the grave marking, but there is much more work and preparation to be done between now and April.
Compatriot Gregg Ballman is pictured here working on Henry Loar’s Marker when he and Michael Gunn placed the 60 pound stone onto its foundation inmate January, 2017.