The Cemetery Grant Program for 2027 launched July 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026 - with significant improvements!

 Starting July 1, 2026 most Active Registered Cemeteries can apply for the Ohio Department of Commerce's Cemetery Grant for 2027. 

AND

Sharing from the "Record Herald" in Washington Court House.: 
  "Ohio Doubles Maximum Grant Funding available for Non-Profit Cemetery Upkeep"
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"Applications must be submitted online at cemeterygrants.com.ohio.gov."
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Video
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Important to read information
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CEMETERY GRANT
The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of
Real Estate and Professional Licensing (REPL)
is pleased to announce the availability
of the FY2027 Cemetery Grant
for qualifying not-for-profit and

local government cemeteries.
Eligible applicants shall
be cemetery operators 
properly registered with REPL,
be a documented not-for-profit
entity under the IRS tax code
and be in compliance with
 any applicable endowment
 and/or preneed cemetery
merchandise and services
trust accounts.

 The REPL Superintendent is
 accepting only online applications.

The Cemetery Grant application
 instructions are being provided
as a worksheet guidance
document only.
This will allow you time to gather all
of the necessary information prior
to submitting the grant application online. 

A link to look up your registration
number is located on the
application page. 

Please gather all information prior
to application entry. 

Once you start the application,

the information entered

cannot be saved and

if you exit out of the application

you will lose all information

previously entered. 

The grant instructions should

help answer any of your questions. 

You can find the grant instructions here.

The application must be answered

 completely to be considered for

 grant funds and submitted

no later than July 31, 2026.

 **NOTICE**

 There is a typo in the

application that is

in the process

 of being corrected. 

"Amount requested

 (up to $2500)"

should instead read: 

"Amount requested

(up to $5000)."

You will be able to enter the

full amount requested. 

If you have questions,

please contact the email below."

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Contact:

CemeteryGrants@com.state.oh.us

~*~*~*~*~*~

Allowable grant requests include

 those to defray costs of

exceptional cemetery

 maintenance or training cemetery

 personnel in the maintenance

and operation of cemeteries.

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New ways for members to find their way around Find a Grave & Spotlighting the American Revolutionary War Veteran Burials on Find a Grave.

First, sharing this recent email message I received from Find a Grave announcing their discontinuation of the Find a Grave Forums.  (You may have received it as well.):

 
"At Find a Grave, we are continually evolving to meet the needs of our members. 

Our newly released Cemetery Suggest Edits has provided an enhanced and faster method for members to suggest updates to cemetery pages.

Following this rollout, the usage of the Forums has declined to the point that we have decided to retire the Find a Grave Forums. We first introduced the Forums circa 2002 as a way to collaborate with the updates to various administrative processes on the site.

 

Since then we have added simpler ways for Find a Grave to make announcements and for you to contact Find a Grave, find help, submit merges, and suggest edits.

 

As a result, we have made the decision to retire the Forums in August 2026.

 

The Forums will become read-only in July 2026."

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Thus, we'll explore a few of the updated links on Find a Grave - in no particular order.:

******

Find a Grave Support

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Try using the "Search Box"

Example:  American Revolutionary War Veterans

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American Revolutionary War Veterans Buried in Ohio

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DISCOVER

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Memorials

******

Reporting a Duplicate Cemetery

******

Adding Cemetery Boundaries and Sections

******

Help

******

Contact Us

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I feel, overall, these current updates from Find a Grave are the most extensive that the company has made in recent memory.  

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If you are a long time regular user of Find a Grave, you may find it invaluable to familiarize yourself with these changes as much as possible; particularly those you feel will impact your research.  

You'll be able to move more smoothly through the category links, etc. and make them work for you to achieve your intended results. 

Sharing the current blog post from the Blog of "BillionGraves"!

 BillionGraves' Blog

Billion Graves "Finding the Family of America's Founding Fathers"

Sharing news of upcoming events in Washington Court House, Fayette County - "A Walk in the Washington Cemetery" with Guest Speaker Mr. Paul LaRue - Monday, June 15, 2026 - 6:30p.m. at Washington Cemetery -- And, Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 11:00a.m. & Noon - Veteran Services Program & The Fayette County Genealogical Society's dedication of new plaque.

 

The Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio is a truly historic cemetery!  Mr. Paul LaRue will provide all of the details about this remarkable cemetery and its history during his presentation on Monday, June 15, 2026 beginning at 6:30p.m. at the Washington Cemetery. 

New publication by the Fayette County Genealogical Society about the documented American Revolutionary War veterans buried in Fayette County.  

For more information regarding society membership, lineage societies, or genealogical research, contact President Sue Rodgers Gilmore at suegilmore@yahoo.com.

The Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing announces applications for the Cemetery Grant Program will be open starting on July 1, 2026 and running through July 31, 2026 for Fiscal Year 2027.

The Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing will be accepting applications for fiscal year 2027 starting July 1, 2026 for the Cemetery Grant Program.:

"Grant applications may only be submitted online and must be submitted no later than July 31, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. to be considered."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Please gather all information prior to entering the application online. Once you start the application, the information entered cannot be saved and if you exit out of the application you will lose all information previously entered. The application site will time out if left open and inactive for longer than 6 hours."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Contact: CemeteryGrants@com.state.oh.us

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"FY2027 Cemetery Grant — Applications open July 1, 2026

Apply starting July 1, 2026: the application will be available at https://cemeterygrants.com.ohio.gov/.

Get updates: cemetery operators can join the cemetery stakeholder email list here.

Questions? Email us at CemeteryGrants@com.ohio.gov.

What the grant pays for:

• Non-routine, exceptional maintenance of registered cemeteries.
• Training for cemetery personnel in cemetery maintenance and operation.

What does not qualify

• Day-to-day or routine maintenance is not considered "exceptional" under Ohio Revised Code section 4767.09.
• Cemeteries that are for-profit corporations are not eligible.
• A cemetery that has not had a burial in the last 25 years or a family cemetery is exempt from registration and does not qualify for a grant.
  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
  *****How often and how much*****

• Most operators may apply every other year for one grant of up to $5,000.
• Operators with five or more cemeteries registered with the Division may apply each year.

Important: 

"Grant funds cannot be used for work or purchases made before the Superintendent formally approves the grant application and the Division receives a signed grant award agreement." 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A link to the October 14, 2025 listing of recipients of the Ohio Cemetery Grant Fund. 

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Sharing this report from Spectrumnews1 -- Columbus - Tuesday - May 26, 2026

Sharing from Spectrumnews1 in Columbus - Tuesday, May 26, 2026.:

This latest report provides the most up to the moment news for how this program is proceeding, thus updating details from earlier reports.:

"The Revolutionary War Veteran Graves Project is part of America 250-Ohio’s effort to identify the estimated 7,000 Revolutionary War veterans buried in Ohio.

At Obetz Cemetery, volunteer Matthew Lucas is one of the people helping track them down.

“With the ones I did yesterday, I’ve marked 716 graves and 34 different counties. 260 different cemeteries,” Lucas said.

The project launched last Memorial Day. Since then, project manager Krista Horrocks said more than 4,200 Revolutionary War veterans have been added to the live dashboard.

Monday marked the deadline for graves to be included in the project’s July 4 release, but Horrocks said the app will remain open so Ohioans can continue adding names after Memorial Day.

“The goal of the project is to document the gravesites of the estimated 7000 Revolutionary War veterans that are buried here in Ohio,” Horrocks said.

The dashboard does more than show where the graves are. It also helps document the condition of the markers, many of which have been worn down after more than 200 years.

“A lot of the early gravestones here in Ohio are made of marble or made of sandstone,” Horrocks said. “They just don’t hold up over time, you know, over 200-plus years when a lot of these veterans were buried, the gravesites and the gravestones, they can become illegible, they can become broken.”

For Lucas, the search is also personal.

He said there is a family story that one of his ancestors, possibly a sixth great-grandfather, fought in the Revolutionary War, but his family has never been able to prove it.

“There’s a rumor that somebody. It would be like a six-time great grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War. We’ve never been able to prove that,” Lucas said.

He hopes documenting graves across Ohio could help other families find missing pieces of their own history.

“When I first got into this, I thought, well, maybe by looking at these individuals, maybe I’ll find that missing piece that I’ve been looking for,” Lucas said. “If not, maybe by documenting some of these graves, somebody who else has been looking might be like, wait, that’s my five times great grandfather. I knew he was in Franklin County. I didn’t know where.”

Even after documenting hundreds of graves, Lucas said finding each one still means something.

“Part of it is relief because I finally found it, but I still get excited for any grave that I find,” Lucas said.

Project leaders say the goal is to preserve those names and stories before more markers become too damaged to read."

Pondering Memorial Day History as we honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to enjoy our freedoms today.

Memorial Day holds its own unique history.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Memorial Day in America holds its own designated importance as a day for us to set aside and honor those who gave the last full measure of their lives so we could continue to live ours in peace. Many of us show our respect by placing flags on veterans' gravesites and taking time to express our appreciation to them for their sacrifices so that we can live our lives in freedom.
**************
Thus, there is most likely no more appropriate source to cite for learning and understanding the history of Memorial Day than the information about it provided by the National Cemetery Administration of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
**************
The history of the Grand Army of the Republic - the G.A.R. 
**************
Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW)
**************
Ohio in the Civil War

**************

Announcement of upcoming tour of the Washington Cemetery in Washington Court House - Monday, June 15, 2026, 6:30p.m.

Paul LaRue will lead a walking tour of the Washington Cemetery - Washington Court House.
*************
"WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — Educator and historian Paul LaRue will lead a historical walking tour of Washington Cemetery on Monday, June 15, as part of the nation’s upcoming semi-quincentennial celebrations.

The free public event, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., is hosted by the Fayette County Genealogical Society.

Mr. LaRue noted that Washington Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year."

The Fayette County Genealogical Society on Facebook

The Washington Cemetery on Find a Grave

Billion Graves vs. Find a Grave vs. Interment.net - Ohio vs. OhioGravestones.org - etc. etc.

 Per: "BillionGraves" (besides "AI" there is "CI"!) 
 "Cemetery Intelligence".
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"FamilySearch" - BillionGraves vs. Find a Grave

Also:

FamilySearch - Wiki - Ohio Cemeteries
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Cyndi's List - Ohio Cemeteries Links
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Interment.net - Ohio
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Obituary Index by R.B. Hayes Presidential Library
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ohio Gravestones.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just announced by Atlas Preservation - 48 State Tour 2026 - Friday - June 26 - Clifton Union Cemetery - Greene County, Ohio.

 Saving America's Graveyards - the 48 State Tour - Atlas Preservation - Jonathan Appell.
*************************
This year's cemetery preservation workshop will be held on Friday - June 26, 2026 - at the Clifton Union Cemetery - located in Miami Township - Greene County, Ohio.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Clifton Union Cemetery - on the Miami Township website

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Clifton Union Cemetery on Find a Grave
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"Revolutionary War Soldiers of Fayette County" - New Publication by the Fayette County Genealogical Society.

From Sue Gilmore - suegilmore@yahoo.com:

"... book committee who researched more than 78 Revolutionary Soldiers who were thought to be buried in Fayette County.  We determined there were 78 and Sue pulled all the research together and typed the book "Revolutionary War Soldiers of Fayette County".  

We have had the book printed and already sold 32 copies."

The following books have been reduced in price:

"Revolutionary War Soldiers of Fayette County"
$20.00 including tax ($18.65 + 7.5% tax 1.35)

*****

People of the Past - 15.00 (13.99 + 1.01 tax)

*****

Chancery and Common Pleas Court Records 1828-1878

10.00 or $9.32 + .68 tax

*****

Chancery Early Minute Books 1817-1841 -  

6.00 (5.60 + .40 tax)

********************
"I will be putting out the newsletter a little early so I can let everyone know about our big 4th of July America 250 Ohio Fayette County celebration.  I hope we have a big turnout."

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Also,

The America-250-Ohio - American Revolutionary War Veterans Graves Live Results Dashboard is updated in real time when new submissions are provided.:

******************************
Currently, there are 33 grave markers documented for American Revolutionary War veterans buried in Fayette County showing on the Dashboard with 16 cemeteries being documented for these burials.

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The deadline has been extended to the close of Memorial Day, May 25, 2026 to contribute to the Revolutionary War Veterans Grave Project in Ohio.

 

        **Sharing this Good News!**

The Ohio History Connection has extended the deadline to contribute to the Ohio Revolutionary War Veterans Graves Project!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
  **How to Participate as a Public Researcher** 

Please note, contributions to this important collection will close at the end of May 25, 2026, which is Memorial Day.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
For assistance via email contact.:   ohiorevwarvets@terracon.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Interactive Live Results Dashboard
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Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio: The Washington County W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps ha...

Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio: The Washington County W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps ha...: Please note that the W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps for Washington County have been added to the right side bar of the blog.  The images are .jp...

The Washington County W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps have been added to the right sidebar of the blog.

Please note that the W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps for Washington County have been added to the right side bar of the blog. 

The images are .jpg format converted from the .pdf format offered on the Washington County Recorder's website. Every effort was made to improve the quality of the map images.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Please note, there are instances where there are two map pages having the same page number.  This is due to the unusual circumstance where the cemetery index appears to identify with an earlier version of numbering that does not refer to the page number appearing in the lower right corner within the frame around the map; as is usually the case in these particular cemetery plat map collections.  Some map pages only had numbers in the upper right corner, and thus in those cases that number was used in the title. Some numbers are "smudged" and difficult to read.
 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As is the case with other counties and their map pages, where more than one cemetery is shown on a page and there is also more than one township on that page, it is saved in its own collection entitled: Multiple Townships - Smaller Cemeteries.  Washington County has 54 pages in that album.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Spotlighting: 

Note, Mary Bird Lake is shown on the WPA Cemetery Plat map as having been buried at the Union Cemetery, however she is listed on Find a Grave buried with her husband, Archibold / Archibald Lake at the Rainbow Cemetery. 

However, their son Thomas Lake, is buried at the Union Cemetery, and his name appears on that WPA Cemetery Plat map page. 

All three family members have a "1" designation for their roles in the American Revolutionary War. 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Returning to WPA Cemetery Map Page 92 (upper right corner) with the Union Cemetery is the Stanleyville Cemetery. 

Four American Revolutionary war veterans were buried at this small cemetery.  One of them shown is Robert Collins whose grave marker states he died in the 109th year of his age. 

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Earlier this month, a blog post was dedicated to the Mound Cemetery in Marietta in Washington County. This cemetery is a "must see" if you enjoying viewing historically important cemeteries in Ohio.  It has a unique landscape not typically associated with most cemeteries in the state.  History abounds with its connections to the American Revolutionary War. Noting it contains the most burials of officers from that war found anywhere in America according to Wikipedia. 

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I hope you enjoy viewing these almost century old map pages drawn up during the years of the Great Depression.  

What a wonderful legacy those who documented these cemeteries, as accurately as they were able to, have left for us. These maps of veteran burials better enable us to utilize their information for our own research while passing down their importance to new generations who can build upon and preserve them as we do now. 

For me, these maps are akin to mirrors shining into a past that, in turn, was reflecting upon events of earlier times that otherwise might be lost to history by today.    

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Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary - Spotlighting the Semiquincentennial in Ohio by documenting the grave sites of the American Revolutionary War Patriots buried in the Buckeye State.

There are several activities planned and many in progress to celebrate and commemorate America's 250th anniversary as a free country making our own laws and plotting our own paths without interference from foreign powers.  

Perhaps you have a specific Ohio county of interest, or a cemetery of concern in the state where you know American Revolutionary War veterans are buried.  This year would be a good year to bring your concerns to those who can do something about resolving the issues and helping document the grave sites from your instructions provided to them.  

There is a link here on the blog to learn more about this program and how to participate by contributing to it.  

 Thus, I am sharing a thought of what someone can do even if they are not able to visit a cemetery in person so that an American Revolutionary War veteran's grave site will be documented.  What I did was send an email to someone whom I knew lives near where the Revolutionary War veteran is buried and provide them the necessary information regarding the veteran and approximately where in the cemetery the veteran is buried (i.e cemetery name including alternate names; section details; any maps of the cemetery I have, etc.)  They in turn can visit the grave site and document it with their in-person photographs and location specifics directly sharing the required information for that veteran in the database.

Here is the link for how to contribute.  

The Interactive Dashboard keeps everyone up to date with what is happening with this important project and how it is progressing. 

May 4, 2026 is the deadline for the public to participate in this Project before it is reviewed for accuracy.  When that portion is completed, the results will then be published for the public to view by July 4, 2026. 

Please refer to the website for all of the particulars with this project!

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Mound Cemetery - Marietta, Ohio. One of Ohio's most historic cemeteries!

Mound Cemetery 

Sharing below this wonderful W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Map of Washington County Ohio's Mound Cemetery in Marietta.: 

 

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My thank you for "being here" and being loyal readers of this blog! You are so appreciated!

**Hello everyone**!  

Sharing a bit of history here that my original Facebook account was banned back on January 18, 2026.  I had learned about it when my account had been hacked by an unknown hacker. Thus, my account was removed and all of my content I ever contributed was removed with it. 

I believe it was on March 1, I rejoined Facebook using a simpler version of my name (just first and last name) and I was accepted!  However, on March 27, not a full month later, Facebook bans my new account citing its account integrity reasons, nothing more specific than that.  I know that they don't allow creating new accounts to circumvent an existing ban.  I understood that.  If that is the case, I feel Facebook should have taken into consideration that my original Facebook account was hacked which took down my own account that was mine at that time; but not the hackers fake account of me which  seemed to remain for awhile afterward!  Apparently, Facebook may not see it that way, thus I don't wish to speculate any further than what has thus far transpired that translates to my current status regarding Facebook.   

With the above being said, I feel Facebook can be a platform for promoting "all things that are considered good" by the general public and to my mind that should include cemetery preservation, gravestone conservation, promoting the need for better burial documentation, and improving existing laws and rules for the betterment of cemeteries and their gravesites. 

I created "Preserving Ohio's Cemeteries" on Facebook on March 27, 2013 starting with 15 members.  I left it with over 1,500 members.

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Most of all, I wish to share that I feel privileged to have this wonderful Blogger Blog which has its own following of wonderful readers!  I appreciate each and every reader.  Thus, I will continue sharing via this blog what I learn and what I know that will enable them and their friends to move forward with plans and proposals to improve the condition of their cemeteries of concern; and promote the reasons for respecting cemeteries and the gravesites they contain.  That there is importance of working with the community and cemetery owners to solve problems a cemetery might be facing in our Great State of Ohio.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

Thus, I'll continue to share stories and links to them that I feel are in the public domain and are of importance to the public's interest.  Bringing attention to the public the problems that Ohio cemeteries face that we all should be made aware of.  

Unfortunately, I am not able to share posts from this blog to Facebook, but I can share to other platforms and organizations.  

This blog has enjoyed a following of like-minded readers who I strive to provide with information that will help with their quest to preserve and protect their cemeteries and gravesites in our Great State of Ohio. 

We are ever mindful that cemeteries are sacred spaces that deserve our respect and attention to their ongoing needs; honoring those who came before us. 

Thank you! 

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Licking County Public Library announces Zoom Meeting - March 17, 2026 - 11:00a.m. to 12:30p.m. - "Gravestone Symbolism" presented by Krista Horrocks of the Ohio History Connection's State Historic Preservation Office

ZOOM MEETING - Click HERE to Register
(Scroll down to: "Click Here to Register on Zoom" - blue button.)
********************
"Krista Horrocks, Gravestone Symbolism - Zoom meeting - 11:00a.m. - 12:30p.m."

Licking County Public Library 

Age Group: 

Adults

Program Description

Event Details

"Krista Horrocks reviews the language of gravestones. Ever wonder what the mysterious symbols on old gravestones mean? 

She deciphers examples and provides a window into historical ideas about death and the afterlife. 

Krista serves in the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection."

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Greene County's W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps are added to the right side bar of the blog.

Greene County's W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps have been added to the right side bar of the blog.
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Please note, these map pages contain a watermark - "Internet Image" on each page created by the Greene County Recorders office.  

To obtain a non-watermark page copy from the Greene County Recorder the cost would be $2.00 a page + $1.00 for certification, per their office.  If you are able to visit in person you can print out your own non-water marked page for .10.  

The Recorder's office's copies are in the.PDF format.
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The pages here for this collection of W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Maps for Greene County are saved in the .jpg version with improvements in clarity, despite the watermark, for better readability.
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Below is an enlargement of the listing shown at the bottom right-hand corner of the Cemetery Index Page (Page 2) that contains the names of veterans with unknown burial locations.: 

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There are some cemeteries that list American Revolutionary War veterans burials, but two stand out as having more considering their size.:

The Pioneer Cemetery in Sugar Creek Township lists four.:

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The Stevenson Cemetery lists 12 American Revolutionary War veteran burials.: 

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Below is a handy guide showing the listing of the numbers associated with the wars ranging from 1 through 33, with number 31 being World War I or the "World War" which was a term used for it at the time the war was being fought.  That is a "good to know fact" if you are researching historical newspapers published from 1914 - 1918 (when the war was fought) and onward until World War II began.   

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Note:  Number 31, the last number on the listing, shows as "World War" which we know it today to having been WWI.
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