Milton event honors Revolutionary War soldiers from area
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MILTON TOWNSHIP -- An America250 celebration honored soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War on Friday at Lake Milton State Park Amphitheater at Craig Beach.
The 22 soldiers honored were men who settled in what would become Milton Township, and their descendants attended the event.
"We are especially honored to welcome the descendants of these brave men whose presence reminds us that the legacy of the American Revolution lives on through the generations," said Sally Smolek, the event's master of ceremonies and president of the Lake Milton Historical Society.
One of the descendants, Judy Sgambati, spoke about her ancestor, Frederick Byers, who settled in Ohio with his family after his time in the military.
"Born in 1768, Frederick was just a boy during the early years of the Revolution. But he served in the (Pennsylvania) militia near the close of the war, and also served in the War of 1812," Sgambati said. "What he accomplished after he came to Ohio encompasses the very meaning of the pursuit of happiness."
The event was focused on the fact that these soldiers were ordinary people, rather than famous leaders remembered in history books.
"As we gather, let us remember that these patriots were ordinary citizens, and answered an extraordinary call," Smolek said. "Their courage, sacrifice and devotion to the cause of liberty helped lay the foundation of the nation that we are privileged to call home."
One such soldier was a militia private named John McKenzie, who has very little historical documentation written about him and no known descendants.
"Of John McKenzie, we know very little," said Jonathan Guerrier, member of the Sons of the American Revolution. "Like countless men and women who sacrificed for the birth of our country, the details of his life have been lost to time.
"We may never know his face, his voice, his fears or what he had endured for American independence. But we know that he served, and we know his name."
A plaque was unveiled at the end of the ceremony with the veterans' names written on it, accompanied by a reading of the names by Guerrier.