SOMERSET - They died fighting for this country even before it became a country. They died for liberty, justice and equality.

And even though they died years before any of us were born, they were remembered on Sunday when each grave was marked with a Patriot Grave Marking by the Rufus Putnam Chapter Ohio Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and the Ohio Society of the War of 1812.

Johan Adam Anspach, who is buried in New Reading Cemetery, and Jacob Spohn, who is buried at the Binckley Ridge Cemetery, both in Somerset, were honored by Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, local residents, descendants, and representatives of the SAR and Daughters of the American Revolution for their part in wars which shaped this country.

Anspach was a veteran of the Revolutionary War while Spohn fought in the War of 1812.

Keith Kaufman, president of the Rufus Putnam Chapter, Ohio Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, said the two ceremonies are important to not only keeping history alive in Perry County, but throughout the nation.

"We want to make sure that they are remembered for their sacrifices and make sure that history in the future remains true," Kaufman said. "It's important that the children attending school now and for those children who will attend in the future remember these men."

Kaufman said the objectives of the SAR are to perpetuate the memory of Revolutionary War patriots, promote fellowship among their descendants, inspire the community by the principles of the government founded by the forefathers, encourage historical research of the American Revolution, preserve the records of the war patriots, mark the locations of the events of that war and its soldiers, and celebrate the anniversaries of the events.

The objectives of the Ohio Society War of 1812 are to collect and preserve the rolls, books and any other documents relating to that war, encourage the research and preservation of historical data, caring for the graves of the veterans of that war, and the fostering of true patriotism and love of country.

With clear skies and a bit of a breeze to make it a little more bearable for the almost 100 who attended to express their gratitude and respect to these two heroes of long ago, Kaufman said he was impressed with the turnout and especially the young people who went to the cemeteries on Sunday.

"We need our youth to keep remembering what these men died for," Kaufman said. "They died for them and they never knew them. But, these men died for ideals and desires for all future generations to benefit from. We owe them for that."

William Anthony Robinson, a representative of the SAR, said Anspach fought at a time when the army he belonged to did not have a "smart uniform, were not brilliantly trained, were ordinary human beings like we are today - they were farmers and laborers - yet they were enfused with the spirit of the time.

"America was their land, their chance to live in a free society," Robinson told the crowd. "If they had failed we all would now be living under the thumb of tyranny."

With relatives participating in the program with Wendy Meeting Harrison leading the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and Rianne Harrison, of Florida, giving her impression of what a patriot means to her, the hour long ceremony was moving to those who attended Anspach's ceremony.

Harrison picked a quote from President Ron Regan to describe her feelings of the ceremonies.

"President Regan said freedom is what we should fight for and protect," Harrison said. "Our greatest monument to these men is not what we are doing here today, but what we are doing throughout the world."

As the sun played behind the clouds, members of the American Legion Post 58 of Somerset and the SAR and Frontiersman fired their guns into the air for a musket and three-volley salute while Chris Sullivan and Becca Diezman, recent graduates of New Lexington High School, played Taps in the background.

During the Spohn ceremony, Rev. Dr. George Fry, president and chaplain general of the Ohio Society, War of 1812, said he was proud to be a part of "this solemn and sacred occasion."

"They stopped the best," Fry told the crowd as they gathered around Spohn's grave site. "They all vowed their descendants would live in freedom. That is what we are doing today. Living with freedom."

Amber Haynes and her mother, Shari Haynes Marsh, of Marysville, played "Amazing Grace" on the violin and flute as part of the ceremonies while Micah Haynes, 7, Marsh's son, kept his eyes on the ceremony dressed in period costume including buckled shoes.

Micah, who will be attending second grade this year, said he liked "being a Colonial boy."

"I like the way they dressed back then," Micah grinned as he played with the lavish cuffs on his billowed white shirt. "I think it's pretty neat. I wish I could dress like this all the time."

Barbara Griffith, president of the Ohio Society of the United States Daughters of the War of 1812, drove from Akron to attend the ceremony because she felt it "vital our young understand the old."

"Our ancestors are who we are today," Griffith explained. "They have made you who you are and me who I am. No matter where you go you can't outrun your ancestry, the good or the bad."

Griffith said the ceremony was close to her heart because the first time she began exploring her own ancestry she found her own solider of the War of 1812.

"We don't all have kings and queens in our backgrounds," Griffith laughed. "Some are dirt farmers, some are tradesmen and some are no so nice. But, we need to remember all of them."

Griffith said the history of our country and ourselves has to be maintained and retained.

"We are what our children will become," Griffith said. "If we forget that what will our children remember?"

kthompson@nncogannett.com
450-6750