President Steve Barlow, Mahoning Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (MVSAR), speaks on Saturday morning about the history of the American Revolution, 157 patriots buried in Columbiana County and the need to raise funds for a Revolutionary War memorial. (Photo submitted by Steve Barlow)

EAST LIVERPOOL — Steve Barlow, president, Mahoning Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (MVSAR), and the City of East Liverpool kicked off the fundraising for the Columbiana Revolutionary War Memorial on Saturday.

Barlow was joined by Mayor Bobby Smith and members of the MVSAR at the corner of Broadway and Washington streets, which will be the site of the memorial in downtown East Liverpool.

The MVSAR started raising funds for the memorial last year after Barlow discovered there are 157 known Revolutionary War patriots buried in Columbiana County for which there is no memorial for.

Barlow noted this memorial for the Revolutionary patriots will be the only one in Columbiana County.

“We mean no disrespect to any veterans of any wars, we are so grateful for the service of all veterans, but for me these patriots were different in as much they weren’t sure what was in store for them if they won and the odds were against them,” Barlow said. “When the Revolutionary War started, we didn’t have the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution or any guarantees of what was to come.”

Barlow had previously said “these patriots have been forgotten.”

Barlow had originally planned to raise $5,000 for a 30-inch by 60-inch polished black granite monument with the names of all 157 patriots engraved on it. He also had plans for 6-inch by 6-inch granite grave markers to be embedded in the ground near the graves of the five patriots buried at Long’s Run Church in Calcutta at a cost of $350.

After meeting with the City of East Liverpool, the MSVAR and the city are now working together to raise funds for a larger monument.

Barlow said he is waiting for an estimate from Scott Shepherd, the architect for the memorial, but he is guessing it will be approximately $20,000. There is currently $5,500 raised toward the monument and pavers.

The memorial will be an 8-foot-tall obelisk with the patriot’s name on it. There will also be a wall with pavers and some plaques possibly containing information on where all the cemeteries are and stories of some of the patriots and flags, according to Barlow.

Local artist Craig Wetzel created an artistic rendering of what the monument will look like when complete.

The East Liverpool High School staff and students worked to prepare the site for the monument and will be laying the bricks for the monument when the time for that comes.

Barlow noted that it was 250 years ago on Saturday in 1775 that the shot that was heard around the world was fired in Lexington, Massachusetts, an event that was preceded by Paul Revere along with a dozen others who were trying to warn Lexington and Concord of the approach of the British Army.

The MVSAR is seeking donations to help make the monument possible. Barlow reminded donors that donations are tax deductible.

Donations can be made by check payable to the Mahoning Valley Sons of the American Revolution Chapter (MVSAR) and mailed to Steve Barlow, MVSAR president, 335 Thompson Ave., East Liverpool, OH 43920.

Barlow said he is hoping this can be a community project and that they need and want the community support and the community to be a part of this.

Barlow thanked all the previous donors, Smith, Safety/Service Director Bill Jones, Sheperd, Carly Brock of Richardson Monuments, Wetzel, SAR and DAR Ohio Chapters, East Liverpool High School and all future donors.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com