Lest We Forget: World War One Statue at Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio

(Note: Click on image for a larger view.)

Marion Cemetery

The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel was dedicated on August 22, 1888 at the Marion Cemetery in Marion, Ohio. Former Civil War General William H. Gibson gave the dedication. You can read more about the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Chapel at the historical sites section of the Marion Cemetery's website. (Click on the image above for a larger view.)















This beautiful stone, which features a sculpture of a mourning female, honors the memory of Edward D. Leach, who passed away in 1916.

















The receiving vault at the Marion Cemetery was the temporary resting place for President Warren G. Harding. President Harding died in 1923, and his remains were placed in the vault while the Harding Memorial was being built. The Harding Memorial is the final resting place of President Harding and his wife Florence Kling Harding, who died in 1924.























The receiving vault was restored in 1993 as part of an Eagle Scout project, with help from the Scout's family, the community, and the Marion Cemetery Association.






















There are hundreds of historic tombstones in Marion, Ohio. The Harding Memorial, Marion Cemetery, St. Mary's Cemetery, and Veterans Memorial Park are all within close proximity to each other, at the intersection of Vernon Heights Boulevard and Route 423.



















Image Courtesy Google Maps

Visit the gallery of the Marion Cemetery Association's online site, to view historic images of the Marion Cemetery, and a 1905 booklet about the Marion Cemetery. The Ohio Historical Society features an informational page with history of both the Harding Home and Memorial.

Harding Memorial Re-Visited

When my husband and I visited the Harding Memorial in 2009, the Memorial was roped off with orange tape due to renovations. Now visitors can climb the steps of the Harding Memorial again. The Harding Memorial is the final resting place of our 29th American President, Warren G. Harding, who died in 1923, and his wife, the former Florence Kling, who died in 1924.






















The Harding Memorial was made from Georgia marble supplied from the Georgia Marble Company in Tate, Georgia, and has classical Doric features. If you are ever in Ohio, consider visiting the Harding Home and Memorial in Marion, Ohio. The memorial is an awe-inspiring sight, and a tour of the Harding Home provides many historical facts about our 29th U.S. President and his wife.
















Many thanks to my husband, who is a fellow history fan, and an extraordinary chauffeur!

Harding Memorial in Marion, Ohio

The Harding Memorial is about 64 miles south of Sandusky Bay, but when traveling, I enjoy viewing monuments and tombstones in the towns we visit. The Harding Memorial is the final resting place of our 29th President, Warren G. Harding, and his wife, Florence Kling DeWolfe Harding. The memorial is circular, made from white marble from Georgia. The memorial was finished in 1927. Thousands of school children all across the United States contributed pennies towards the construction of the Harding Memorial. In the summer of 2009 the Harding Tomb was being renovated.

Not far from the Harding Tomb is the home in which Warren and Florence resided for many years. Warren G. Harding campaigned from the front porch of his Marion home when he ran for the presidency in 1920.




The front porch of the Harding Home is still a delightful place to be.

When President Harding died in office, on August 2, 1923, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone all traveled to Marion to attend his funeral.