Forty-three veterans will be honored for the first time in over 100 years by name and rank in this year’s annual Veterans Day ceremony organized by the Friends of Athens Asylum Cemeteries at The Ridges Cemetery #1 in Athens, Ohio. Forty of the veterans fought for the Union, one served in the Confederate Army, and two served in the United States Colored Infantry.
Those to be honored were admitted to The Ridges when it was known as the Athens Lunatic Asylum after the Civil War and when they died, their bodies were not claimed by their families for a variety of reasons. The hospital then buried them in its cemetery, and they lay forgotten, anonymous beneath numbered gravestones. Their identities were listed on separate lists kept by the Ohio Department of Mental Health, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the Athens County Historical Society.
In 2004, Senator Jimmy Stewart sponsored a bill which was passed under former Governor Robert Taft, making grave directories public record. The Friends of Athens Asylum Cemeteries spearheaded the push in 2009 to recognize the occupants of the numbered graves by name via new gravestones, which are installed flush with the ground in front of the old numbered stones in order to preserve the historical integrity of the site.
Ohio University now owns The Ridges and uses the old hospital building for a museum and classroom space. The Ohio Department of Mental Health owns the cemeteries and the National Alliance on Mental Illness is responsible for their care.
Doug McCabe, Curator of Manuscripts, Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections at the Vernon R. Alden Library at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, has done extensive research on the existing records of all of the patients buried at The Ridges, and he traveled to the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C. to obtain approval for the veterans to receive government-issued gravestones. Eighty-four veterans have been found. Forty-three were approved to receive the gravestones so far. Volunteers installed the new gravestones in the cemetery on October 29.
This year’s Veterans Day ceremony starts at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 11. The program is as follows:
- 1:00 pm - Presentation of the Colors (ROTC & color guard).
- 1:10 pm - Blessings by Pastor Diana Kinder.
- 1:15 pm - Welcome Speech – Mr. Tom Collins
- 1:45 pm - Introduction of Speaker - Mr. Terry Frost, Past State Commander, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
- 2:05 pm - Hocking County Children’s Choir with Director Judie Henniger – 2 songs
- 2:25 pm - Ohio Storyteller Adele Browne to recite poem.
- 2:40 pm - Reenactors and gun salutes. Cannon volley.
- 3:00 pm - Moment of silence and Taps – end of program. The public is invited to place flowers at the conclusion of the ceremony.
- 3:10 pm - Public visits with reenactors, speakers and other participants.
Taps will be played by Carolyn Cade who is returning from last year.
Civil War Reenators include The 1st Tennessee Infantry, Company B; the 13th Virginia Infantry, Co. H; and McKinley Camp 21, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
Artillery is provided by the Fifth Ohio Light Artillery.
DIRECTIONS:
From US 33, take the SR 682/Ohio University Exit. Turn onto North Ridge Dr. just past the Richland Ave./682 roundabout. Watch for signs. Park in the parking lot near the Kennedy Museum. A shuttle will be available to transport you from the parking lot to the cemetery.
Stop at the information tent to speak with members of the Friends of Athens Asylum Cemeteries. You may also check the list there of persons buried in the cemeteries.
If you would like to help with this event, get information about persons buried in the cemeteries, donate, or become involved with the organization, please contact:
info@friendsofathensasylumcemeteries.com
The FAAC works to provide identifying gravestones for all those buried in The Ridges whether they are veterans or not. Permission from family members who can prove lineage is required for non-veterans. Follow the group on Facebook or Twitter.
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