A group of history enthusiasts will dedicate new grave markers for two Revolutionary War veterans buried in Wayne County, and their descendants are participating in the ceremonies.
The programs take place 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, at New Garden Cemetery, 1334 New Garden Road, Fountain City, and at noon Saturday, Dec. 14, at King Cemetery, 1350 N.W. N St. in Richmond.
At each service, local Daughters of the American Revolution will dedicate a granite marker for a Revolutionary War veteran in an unmarked grave.
Both ceremonies are open to the public.
More than 70 Revolutionary War veterans have been buried in Wayne County. As an America 250 DAR chapter project, members of the Richmond chapter began visiting their graves. This fall, they visited 20 cemeteries to pay tribute to 36 Revolutionary War veterans and clean their tombstones.
They also noted unmarked graves and stones that have become weathered and unreadable.
With funding from the National Society DAR America 250 Celebration Grant, Dwyer Family Memorials and private donations, the chapter bought two new commemorative markers for two unmarked graves: Ezekiel Haisley and Adam Vinnedge. With the help of cemetery administration/owners, they’ve determined the approximate location of the graves and received permission to place new stones.
Before the Dec. 14 program, DAR members will place wreaths on the graves of 14 soldiers in King Cemetery through the Wreaths Across America program.
Donations are now being accepted to buy wreaths in 2025. Each wreath costs $17. Checks can be made payable to Richmond-Indiana DAR Chapter and sent in care of M. Taylor, 567 Morgan Creek Road, Williamsburg, IN 47393, or contributions can be made at wreathsacrossamerica.org/INKING.
DAR members have placed flags at veterans’ graves for several years.
A version of this article appeared in the December 4 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.