Scouts, DAR members beautify historic landmark in Boardman
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BOARDMAN – A historic landmark in the township was given some much needed TLC on Sunday with the help of dozens of volunteers.
Scouts from BSA Troop 55 in Youngstown and Cub Scout Pack 101 in Warren, members of the Mahoning Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mahoning Valley Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and the Ohio Society Children of the American Revolution (CAR), as well as former military members and one active Naval reservist converged at the Road of Remembrance Memorial in the Forest Glen Estates at 4500 Market St.
The volunteers redid the landscaping at the landmark memorial rocks. Originally placed in 1931 by the Mahoning DAR Chapter, the historic stones include rocks brought directly from the Revolutionary War battlefields of Lexington and Concord, as well as a memorial marker honoring World War I service members. The central monument also rests above a historic capsule of soil from the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France, according to Rebecca Fife, chair of historic preservation for the Mahoning DAR Chapter.
“ReA Lawn Service of Niles, a veteran-owned business, donated both their time and heavy machinery to unearth and relocate the large rocks, as well as move rock mulch, making a massive impact on our project,” Fife said.
She said landscape materials were provided by Altiere’s Home & Garden in Boardman.
“There is a lot of history to the 39 rocks at this site. Each one was hand picked by our chapter members back in 1931 and was from within 500 feet of the battlefields. Lexington is engraved on two, Concord on two, HC House (Hancock-Clarke House), and Mg Manse (Old Manse House), which overlooked the opening conflict at the North Bridge on April 19, 1775. This was the location of the ‘shot heard round the world’,” Fife said.
She said this project was badly needed. Over time, overgrown shrubbery and weathered mulch had obscured many of these rocks.
“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,” Fife said.
The bench was installed by the Mahoning DAR Chapter on April 19, 2025. This was 250 years to the day from the first “shot heard round the world.” The chapter did it as a nod to the original design, which had four benches.
“This landscaping initiative represents a powerful collaboration between organizations united by deeply aligned core principles. 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,” Fife said.