Sunday May 16, 2021 - There will be a dedication of markers for three brothers who served in the Civil War - Baltic, Holmes County, Ohio

 "HEADSTONES TO BE DEDICATED FOR CIVIL WAR VETERANS"

American Legion Post 494, of Sugarcreek, Ohio, and Forrest Chanay, of the Holmes County Civil War Roundtable, will be dedicating 3 headstones for the Millers Brothers, who served in the 67th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Co. C, during our country's Civil War.  The brothers,  Tobias, Isaac, and Stephen served with honor and valor.  

Tobias and Stephen were both killed in the 2nd battle to take Fort Wagner, South Carolina, on July 18, 1863.  This battle is made famous by the movie "Glory".

Brother Isaac survived the war and lived a good and successful life.  He died in 1900.  The story goes that Isaac arranged to have his brothers bodies brought back from South Carolina, and buried in the Shutt-Berger (Church of the Brethren) Cemetery at Baltic, some years after the war.

On Sunday, May 16th, a public dedication of the new headstones will be held.   Music from 1:40-2:00 will be provided by Steve & Lisa Ball, and Larry Stahl.  Members of American Legion Post 494 will lead the ceremony.   

Veteran Forrest Chanay, of the CWR, will have charge of the dedication of the headstones, using the dedication prescribed by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW).  The Ladies of the GAR will be strewing flowers at their graves.  Abe Lincoln (Jerry Payn) will have a few words afforded for the occasion.

The 41st OVI and other reenactors, will provide honors for the three veterans.  Boy Scout Troop #91 will be assisting with the ceremony also.   Family relatives Evelyn Ting, from Brunswick Georgia and Rod Miller of Gettysburg, Pa will participate in the event.

The community is encouraged to attend the ceremony.  Social distancing and masks are recommended.   

Bring your own lawn chairs.   

For more information or to share anything about the Miller Brothers, contact Jeff Schrock at 330-473-5928 or Chanay at 330-276-6202.

Re-visiting Ohio Attorney General Opinion - 2978 - 1953 - "1. CEMETERY - MAY BE CONSIDERED ABANDONED..."

There are several OAGs that touch upon topics that pertain to cemeteries that are posted online on the Attorney General's website going back to the early 1950s - and No. 2978 - 1953 is the one I go back and re-read the most often.  

OAG's are Ohio Attorney General Opinions.  

No, OAGs are not actual laws in the State of Ohio.  However, these Opinion statements are published resources that are referenced for legal cases.  They are important because these Opinions are usually given "careful consideration" by the courts as stated in the FAQs.:  

OAG - FAQs

"What is the significance of an Attorney General opinion?"
"Attorney General opinions provide valuable advice to public officials and are useful in guiding the actions of those officials.  Although Attorney General opinions are not binding on the courts, courts usually give formal opinions careful consideration."

Indeed, careful consideration should be given to this No. 2978 from 1953 because it appears to have withstood the test of time; for almost 68 years. It should be re-visited, though, and updated to provide stronger protections for abandoned cemeteries.  

I have not read where it has been over-ruled.  

Old newspapers tell us that all was not well regarding some of Ohio's cemeteries during the 1930s.

 While researching Ohio newspaper stories about the cemetery documentation work conducted by the W.P.A. workers in the 1930s, I became aware of many other "newsy" cemetery stories published on the same pages as the W.P.A. related stories.  

I learned that many veterans were buried in unmarked graves.  

I learned that fraud by cemetery owners is a crime not unique to our times.  I learned that cemetery owners engaged in fraudulent activities to scam unsuspecting people out of their money by not delivering goods to customers that were promised.  

Sadly, I also learned that thefts at cemeteries happened then just like they are happening today.