A Memorial Day Tribute (Honoring Our Veterans)

View Image Gallery

In 2017 the Parma Heights Historical Society began identifying and placing markers at each Veteran's grave site. The Cemetery is currently close to capacity. Since the start of this project until now I began to realize how Patriotic this rural area was especially during 1861-1865, Civil War years. I did a Nation wide study and discovered that the Parma area is one the highest number of Veterans as a percentage of total graves. 12.5% of the total grave sites in this Cemetery are Veterans.

There are 75 Veterans buried in this Cemetery. 70 Men and 5 Women, 2 WWII Nurses, 1 Civil War Nurse, 1 Marine, and 1 from Coast Guard. The Oldest Veteran at death was Steve Santner at 101. Steve was a WWII Army Veteran.

The Toll Collector at the corner of Pearl Road and Old York from 1876-1907 was Oscar Nicholas, a wounded Veteran from the Civil War. He was in the 67th Regiment Company G of the Ohio Infantry. He entered as a Corporal and left as a Sargent. He was shot in the right arm during the battle of Fort Wagner, South Carolina. He was also shot in the right leg during the battle of Ware Bottom Church, Virginia. He was to be promoted to Lieutenant, but because of his extensive wounds was discharged on 12/12/1865 by a Surgeon. Oscar was a President of the Grand Army Republic. He represented the Civil War Veterans from the Parma Township and was one of the founding members of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Cleveland.  

The City of Parma Heights in partnership with the Parma Heights Historical Society purchased two benches that will be permanently placed in the Cemetery and in time for this year's Memorial Day Service Monday May 29. 2023

As a Navy Veteran from the Vietnam War Era, Member of the American Legion Post 703, and Parma Heights Historical Society Member, I can say in behalf of all these groups we will NEVER FORGET their Service.                       

Number of Veterans per War

Revolutionary War - (2)

Civil War - (21)

Spanish American - (1)`

World War I -  (3)

World War II - (36)

Korea - (4)

Vietnam - (8)

Total ----  (75)