Ohio has more military cemeteries and locations of military interment than any other state. Ohio is tasked with a difficult job to maintain military burial identification, general upkeep, and to preserve these facilities in honor of all who reside there.  

Approximately 180,000 African Americans comprising 163 units served in the Union Army during the Civil War, and many more African Americans served in the Union Navy. Both free African-Americans and former slaves joined the fight.

The African American community of New Richmond, Ohio contributed proportionately a significant share to the cause of freedom and restoration of the Union. Black soldiers and sailors of New Richmond supported General Grant’s siege of Vicksburg in 1863. Five New Richmond men served in the same infantry unit, Company K of the 27th U.S. Colored Troops. Silas Owens, Joseph King, Jacob Thomas, Ila Houston and Alex Adams fought valiantly at Petersburg in July of 1864.

After the war, many African American Union veterans established New Richmond as their home.  In Citizens and Samarian Cemetery on Rt. 132 just outside New Richmond are the final resting places for 23 of these brave men

Pioneer Cemetery was the first project between My GI and the Cincinnati National Association of Black Veterans. The Samarian Cemetery project is going to receive a monument when $4,000 worth of funds are raised or freed up.  As soon as we honor the African-American veterans interred at the Samarian Cemetery, we will move to one of two other locations in Cincinnati.

The burial and recognition of any veteran is incredibly important and should be honored by those present and those who walk the cemetery fifty years from now.