Members of the Ohio National Guard spread soil as part of a restoration project at Hillcrest Cemetery. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        ANDERSON TOWNSHIP - The Ohio Army National Guard has started tackling the tall weeds and repairing years of erosion that have taken their toll on Hillcrest Cemetery.

        The cemetery, on 15 acres near Coney Island, is the resting place of 1,388 veterans, including 849 African-Americans denied burial elsewhere.

        “We're restoring the honor and memory of these brave veterans who served us in time of war,” said Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, who helped level some of the uneven ground on Sunday.

        “We work also to overcome the injustices of our past. ... It salutes all African-Americans that served.”

        Sunday was the dedication service for the restoration, which has been a combined project of the state Office of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Rep. Rob Portman's office,

        Anderson Township trustees, the Coalition to Save Hillcrest Cemetery and the National Guard.

        Local National Guard units last week began restoring the Sutton Road cemetery, including working on drainage, repairing the road and clearing brush that surrounds toppled gravestones - some of which are decorated with American flags and flowers.

A headstone is covered by overgrowth. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Three National Guard units - each sending about 30 soldiers - will alternate working weekends in the cemetery.

        “It's horrible what's been done to it,” said Shaun Saylor, a 20-year-old private first class from College Hill, who has been helping repair the damage. “It feels great that I can help.”

        Total renovation was estimated at $1.6 million for a commercial entity. But cost for the National Guard is $166,000, because manpower is thrown in.

        Other businesses and agencies also are putting money into the estimated $1 million project, according to a guard spokesman.

        The National Guard has been seeking federal approval to work on the project for about two years.

        The cemetery was fallen into disrepair since 1991 because its owners failed to re-register. About 700 non-military graves also are there.

        Last year, white crosses were put on 237 unmarked graves of veterans, including some who served in the Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I, said Russ Jackson, an Anderson Township trustee.

        Within the last few weeks, about 26 tons of headstone material started arriving for grave markers.

        The township also is trying to track down the veterans' relatives.

        “We can finally give the 1,400-some veterans buried here the honor and respect veterans in federal cemeteries have,” Mr. Jackson said. “It's the same honor and respect all veterans richly deserve.”

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