How Much Do You Know About Honoring Veterans?

Four quick questions — see how you stack up before we tell the full story.

Which war's veterans are buried at Chardon Road Cemetery in Willoughby Hills?

• Civil War only — Civil War veterans are buried there — but so are soldiers from an even earlier conflict.
• Revolutionary War and Civil War — Correct! The cemetery holds veterans of both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War — connecting the very founding of this nation to its preservation.
• World War I and II — Those wars came later. Chardon Road Cemetery dates back to the Revolutionary War era.
• Korean War — The cemetery is much older — its history stretches to the founding of the United States.

What does the VA provide for veterans' graves at restored cemeteries like this one?

• Flowers and landscaping — Landscaping is usually handled by volunteers and local organizations — not the VA directly.
• A new headstone — That's right. The VA provides replacement headstones for veterans whose markers have been lost, damaged, or destroyed — a powerful act of recognition across the centuries.
• A bronze plaque only — The VA does offer medallions and markers, but for this restoration, they're providing a full new headstone for the Revolutionary War soldier.
• Nothing — it's all private funding — The VA actually has a National Cemetery Scheduling Office and programs to provide headstones for veterans' graves.

What was the biggest challenge O'Brien faced cleaning the headstones herself?

• She couldn't find the right chemicals — The cleaning solutions exist — the challenge was pure scale. Two stones took hours.
• It took hours just to clean two stones — Exactly. Two headstones took an entire day's work. With dozens more in the cemetery, she knew she needed professional help — and that's when Stonehugger Cemetery Restoration got the call.
• The headstones were too fragile to touch — Fragility is always a concern with old headstones, but the main issue was the sheer amount of time required for even two stones.
• She wasn't allowed to access the property — Access wasn't the problem — time and scale were. Two stones took hours, and there were roughly 70 burial sites in the cemetery.

Who is providing the new wrought-iron style fence for the cemetery — free of charge?

• The City of Willoughby Hills — The city didn't fund the fence — a local business owner stepped up out of personal commitment.
• The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) — The VFW does great work, but the fence was donated by a private business owner with a personal connection to the project.
• Shannon Fence, owned by Bob Sparent — Correct! Bob Sparent, owner of Shannon Fence and a childhood friend of a Men of Honor member, is donating the full fence — designed to simulate the wrought-iron style of 200 years ago.
• Stonehugger Cemetery Restoration — Stonehugger did the professional headstone restoration work, but the fence donation came from Shannon Fence's Bob Sparent.

Linda J. O'Brien didn't set out to lead a $50,000 restoration project. She showed up to Chardon Road Cemetery in Willoughby Hills the way most people approach big problems — one small step at a time, armed with a scrub brush and the nagging feeling that something needed to be done.

O'Brien is the founder of Liberty Camp USA, a program that teaches children about the Revolutionary War and the country's founding. When a fellow camp organizer told her about a forgotten veterans cemetery hidden between a commercial building and two homes in Willoughby Hills, she couldn't walk away. 'I love America,' she said, her voice breaking.

Chardon Road Cemetery: Then vs. Now

Before Restoration

• Overgrown Condition Weeds covering burial sites
• Toppled Headstones Fallen and out of place
• No fence or signage
• Centuries of grime on markers
• One soldier's headstone missing

After Restoration

• Restored Condition Professional cemetery restoration
• Upright Headstones Cleaned and properly placed
• New wrought-iron style fence (donated)
• New sign from Middlefield fabricator
• VA-provided headstone for Revolutionary War soldier

The cemetery restoration became a true community effort — and it started with a chance encounter at dinner. O'Brien had been telling a friend about the Men of Honor Foundation, a Lake County men's social club that had previously restored another cemetery in the area. Mid-conversation, her friend pointed across the restaurant: 'Right there is one of the Men of Honor.' That was all it took.

The Men of Honor, led by chairman Edward Jones, launched a fundraising campaign — raffles, community outreach, donor connections. Jones recalled visiting the cemetery for the first time: 'The first time I came out here was really sobering.' The cause had become personal.

These people sacrificed their lives, their families — they had tremendous struggles. They made this country. They made what we now call Willoughby Hills.Linda J. O'Brien, Founder, Liberty Camp USA

How the Restoration Came Together

• 3 Years Ago — Linda O'Brien first visits Chardon Road Cemetery — overgrown, neglected, headstones toppled
• Year 1 — O'Brien attempts solo cleaning — two headstones take an entire day. Realizes the scope requires professionals.
• Year 1–2 — O'Brien connects with Stonehugger Cemetery Restoration. Cost estimate: $50,000.
• Year 2 — Chance dinner encounter leads O'Brien to the Men of Honor Foundation — fundraising begins.
• Year 2–3 — Men of Honor host raffles and reach community donors. Bob Sparent of Shannon Fence donates full fencing.
• Year 3 — New sign arranged through a Middlefield fabricator. VA approves new headstone for Revolutionary War soldier.
• June 15, 2026 — Full restoration unveiled — Chardon Road Cemetery reopens in time for America's 250th birthday celebration.

News 5 first learned of the project through Steve McKee — whose son Kyle was killed in a military helicopter crash in Egypt. Steve and his wife Robbie visited the News 5 studios to share Kyle's letters and speak about how they honor his memory. Steve mentioned his involvement with the cemetery restoration almost as an aside. We knew we had to see it for ourselves.

What we found was a story about how one person's determination can ripple outward. O'Brien stumbled upon Edward Halston's grave — a soldier who fought in the very Revolutionary War she teaches children about at Liberty Camp USA. That personal connection transformed a volunteer cleanup into a three-year mission.

Setting the Record Straight

The cemetery has no connection to modern veterans or their families.

Verdict: false

Steve McKee — whose son Kyle died in military service — is actively involved with the Men of Honor group restoring the cemetery. The project explicitly bridges past and present sacrifice.

The restoration was funded entirely by government grants.

Verdict: false

The $50,000 restoration was funded through community fundraising — raffles, private donors, and the Men of Honor Foundation. The fence was donated free of charge by Shannon Fence owner Bob Sparent. The VA is contributing one headstone.

Chardon Road Cemetery holds veterans from multiple American wars.

Verdict: true

The cemetery contains veterans of both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, making it one of the oldest burial grounds in Lake County — and a direct link to the founding of the United States.

Linda O'Brien's work was part of a larger organized restoration program.

Verdict: mostly false

O'Brien launched the project independently, motivated by personal conviction. She connected with Stonehugger Cemetery Restoration and the Men of Honor Foundation along the way — but the initiative began with one woman, a scrub brush, and two headstones.

The Community Behind the Restoration

• 1 — Woman Who Started It All
• 1 — Fence Donated Free
• 1 — Professional Restorer
• 250 — Years of History Honored

How You Can Honor Veterans in Northeast Ohio

1. Attend the June 15 Unveiling — The fully restored Chardon Road Cemetery will be officially unveiled in a ceremony on June 15 in Willoughby Hills. All are welcome to attend and pay respects.
2. Donate to Complete the Fundraising Goal — The project hasn't quite reached its full fundraising target. Every dollar helps ensure the cemetery can be properly maintained going forward.
3. Learn About Liberty Camp USA — Linda O'Brien's program teaches children about the Revolutionary War and America's founding. Supporting the camp keeps civic education alive for the next generation.
4. Report a Neglected Veterans Site — Know of another forgotten cemetery or veterans memorial in Northeast Ohio? Email News 5's Rob Powers at Rob.Powers@WEWS.com — one tip can start a movement.

Who Are the Men of Honor Foundation?

The Men of Honor Foundation describes itself as a men's social club based in Lake County. Chairman Edward Jones says the group's work extends well beyond social events — they've taken on cemetery restoration projects in the area, connecting donors and volunteers around causes tied to community history and veteran dignity.

Steve McKee, whose son Kyle was killed in a military helicopter crash in Egypt, is one of the group's members. It was through Steve that News 5 first learned about the Chardon Road Cemetery project. The Men of Honor began fundraising for the restoration after O'Brien spotted one of their members at a restaurant dinner — a chance encounter she says was anything but coincidental.

The group hosted raffles and leveraged their community network to raise funds toward the $50,000 restoration goal. Their involvement transformed what had been one woman's solo effort into a full community partnership.

Get Involved — The Project Isn't Finished Yet

• Donate to the Restoration Fund: The team hasn't quite hit their $50,000 goal. Your donation goes directly toward completing the Chardon Road Cemetery restoration.
• Attend the Unveiling Ceremony: Join the community on June 15 in Willoughby Hills as the fully restored Chardon Road Cemetery is officially opened.
• Share a Story of Service: Know someone honoring veterans or serving the community in Northeast Ohio? News 5's Rob Powers wants to hear about it.

I don't believe in coincidences. It has to be God.Linda J. O'Brien, on how the right people found her project at exactly the right time

Sources & References

• Primary source: local-news — Amanda Merrell
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA headstone and marker program for veterans buried in private, state, and historic cemeteries
• Association for Gravestone Studies — Best practices for historic cemetery preservation and professional headstone restoration methods
• Ohio History Connection — Documentation and preservation standards for Revolutionary War and Civil War era cemeteries in Ohio
• News 5 Cleveland / WEWS — Original reporting by Amanda Merrell on Chardon Road Cemetery restoration and the Men of Honor Foundation