Volunteers Restore Historic Road of Remembrance Memorial in Boardman

Thirty-Nine Stones From Lexington and Concord

Thirty-nine rocks, hand-picked in 1931 from within 500 feet of Revolutionary War battlefields, sat obscured Sunday beneath overgrown shrubbery and weathered mulch at the Road of Remembrance Memorial in Boardman. Two of the stones bear engravings for Lexington, two for Concord, and others mark historic locations such as the Hancock-Clarke House and the Old Manse House, which overlooked the opening conflict at the North Bridge on April 19, 1775.

Community Partnership Drives Restoration

Dozens of volunteers gathered to clear the site at the Forest Glen Estates at 4500 Market St., The Vindicator reported. The preservation effort relied on local partnerships. ReA Lawn Service of Niles, a veteran-owned business, donated its time and heavy machinery to unearth and relocate the large rocks while also moving rock mulch. Altiere’s Home & Garden in Boardman provided the landscape materials.

From High-Maintenance Mulch to Clean Stone

Rebecca Fife, chair of historic preservation for the Mahoning DAR Chapter, explained the necessity of the work.

Knitted commemorative poppies on railings on the road of remembrance

Recognizing the need for a lasting update, we cleared away the old vegetation and the high-maintenance mulch was replaced with clean, low-maintenance landscape stone. As part of the revitalization, the memorial bench was integrated directly into the new stone landscape. This addition creates a peaceful, dedicated space for visitors to sit and reflect on the sacrifices of our nation’s defenders.

A Century of Military Memorials

The landmark features more than its Revolutionary roots. The site includes a memorial marker honoring World War I service members, while the central monument rests directly above a historic capsule of soil gathered from the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France. The newly integrated memorial bench was originally installed by the Mahoning DAR Chapter on April 19, 2025—marking 250 years to the day from the first shot heard round the world, serving as a nod to the site’s original 1931 design which featured four benches.

A Roster United by Core Principles

Sunday’s landscaping day drew a diverse participant roster. Local scouts from BSA Troop 55 in Youngstown and Cub Scout Pack 101 in Warren worked alongside members from the Mahoning Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Mahoning Valley Sons of the American Revolution, and the Ohio Society Children of the American Revolution. Former military members and an active Naval reservist also turned out.

“This landscaping initiative represents a powerful collaboration between organizations united by deeply aligned core principles,” Fife said. “By combining forces to restore this public monument, we are honoring our nation’s defenders right here at home and ensuring the rocks at the ‘Road of Remembrance Monument’ will continue to serve its original purpose: ensuring the defenders of our nation are never forgotten.”