7 things to know
Established in 1823, West Chester Township celebrates its bicentennial anniversary June 2, 2023. Here are seven things you might not have known about the rich history and heritage of our community’s Memorial Day customs and traditions.
Veterans’ Organizations
Memorial Day would not be possible without our local veterans’ organizations. Thank you to the dedicated members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7696 and the Havelock D. Nelson American Legion Post 681 West Chester/Liberty Twp., who work collaboratively with West Chester Township officials to host the Olde West Chester parade and Brookside Cemetery remembrance event. These traditions have continued locally for decades because of the heart and thoughtfulness of the very people who fought for our freedoms. You can connect with the VFW Post 7696 and American Legion Post 681 on Facebook.
Historical Society
Working with local veterans organizations, the devoted members of the West Chester~Union Township Historical Society organize the Setting of the Flags and the Reading of the Names. Our community’s archivists have taken great care to meticulously maintain a database of all 800 veterans who are interred at the cemetery and where they are laid to rest. In the days leading up to Memorial Day, volunteers place flags at their graves and on Monday morning – with the Memorial Day parade in motion – members of the historical society toll the bell, reading every name of every service member buried here. The West Chester~Union Township Historical Society invites you to get social on Facebook.
Seven Wreaths
When you attend or observe the ceremony at Brookside Cemetery, 6425 West Chester Road, you’ll witness a wreath laying presentation at the foot of the second flagpole, located just west of the entrance. One large wreath represents every known US soldier who died in service to his or her country. A set of seven smaller wreaths represent seven unknown American soldiers from World War I. This custom began more than 100 years ago, as documented by author and historian Virginia Shewalter on page 131 of her book, A History of Union Township, Butler County, Ohio.
“In 1918, cemeteries all over the country were allotted seven soldiers. If the cemetery association (or township) could afford to pay for the transportation and burials, the bodies were brought to the cemetery. If not, the unknown soldiers were to be commemorated in spirit. At Union Township, the seven soldiers are commemorated in spirit.”
Entrance Flagpole and Monument
Across from the gates of the cemetery, a veterans’ monument in a flowerbed greets visitors who enter near the base of the first flagpole. The tall, granite marker features insignias of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force and is inscribed, “Dedicated to those who served in World Wars I and II that we might have peace and security.” Virginia Shewalter chronicled the origins of this stone on page 131 of her book, A History of Union Township, Butler County, Ohio.
“In 1948 the members of the Maud Dooryard Garden Club decided to make this memorial a project. They gave bake sales, sold cards, and asked for contributions. In less than a year they had raised enough money [about $600.00] to realize their ambition. Mr. Albert Buck, a trustee of this township for twenty-seven years from 1919-1946, was a salesman for the Carpenter Monument Company in Hamilton, Ohio. He helped the garden club to make the arrangements, and on Memorial Day 1949, the monument and flagpole were dedicated.”
A companion footstone below this marker, added circa 1994 by VFW Post 7696, reads “Dedicated to the memory of the men and women who have honorably served their country.”
Walter W. Wharton and Decoration Day
The United States of America began its Memorial Day tradition May 30, 1868. Back then, it was called "Decoration Day," and West Chester, Ohio was known as Union Township. Local Civil War veteran Walter W. Wharton (1833-1907) is considered the originator of our community’s patriotic ceremonies. He hosted the first Decoration Day celebration more than a century and a half ago at his home in the area of the village of Tylersville. When he could no longer host the events at his home, circa 1904, the ceremonies were moved to their present location at Brookside Cemetery, where Mr. Wharton is laid to rest. Back in 2018 when our nation celebrated the 150th anniversary of Memorial Day, the West Chester COMMUNITY REPORT e-newsletter published an excerpt from pages 100-101 of Virginia Shewalter’s book, A History of Union Township, Butler County, Ohio, which documents that history.
John Beckett, Revolutionary War Veteran
Among the 800 veterans laid to rest at the cemetery is John Beckett (1752-1843), who is the only veteran of the American Revolutionary War. John is buried with his wife Mary and their children, Sarah J. and John R. The Beckett family, among some of the earliest Union Township pioneers, owned the farmland that would much later be developed into the Beckett Ridge residential community.
A Potter’s Field
West Chester Cemetery (a.k.a. Brookside Cemetery) contains a "Potter's Field" for those who were unable to pay for their loved ones' burial. One Civil War veteran is buried there with a marker located in the middle of the unknown, unmarked graves. The Potter’s Field is along the furthest west border of the cemetery in the area next to what’s known as the Old Yard.
Memorial Day is traditionally observed with a parade on Cincinnati-Dayton Road, followed by a special ceremony at Brookside Cemetery in West Chester, Ohio. Tune to West Chester TV later that week for to watch coverage of events.