(Photo by Evan Bevins) Members of the Captain James Neal Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution color guard perform a musket salute following the dedication of two benches and a flagpole honoring Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Wood County Saturday at Parkersburg City Park.

PARKERSBURG — The names of 13 men who fought in the Revolutionary War and were laid to rest in Wood County have been added to a monument in City Park, as groups prepare for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Members of the local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution on Saturday afternoon dedicated two benches on either side of an existing monument bearing the names of 16 Revolutionary War soldiers buried in the county. One is engraved with the names of 13 more identified through research by members of the local James Wood Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Past chapter Regent Jane Richards said the effort grew out of a project started in 2021 by the state regent to identify all Revolutionary War patriots buried in West Virginia.

“It was a very enjoyable and interesting experience,” Richards said, recalling that she and other chapter members “climbed over and under fences” and “traveled roads we’d never been on” to find and photograph the individuals’ final resting places. They compiled information on the men and their service, along with data for eight patriots whose burials in Wirt County were previously unrecorded, and submitted it to the state DAR organization.

But they wanted to include those they identified in the memorial at the park, where the names of 16 others identified over the years adorn two plaques attached to a large rock. The plaques were placed by the chapter in 1908 and 1989.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Members of the Captain James Neal Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution color guard perform a musket salute following the dedication of two benches and a flagpole honoring Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Wood County Saturday at Parkersburg City Park.

“Each name represents not just a man but a legacy,” chapter Regent Susan Nutter said. “The bench invites all who pass to pause to reflect and remember that freedom is not given but was earned” through the effort and sacrifice of the men honored and those beside whom they served.

Nutter said the additions are part of the buildup toward celebrating the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding on July 4, 2026.

The local Captain James Neal Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution joined in the project, with member Jeff Thomas spearheading the effort to raise money for a second bench, this one bearing an insignia for the 250th anniversary. The groups also had a flagpole installed, with a flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol that was acquired with the help of Richards’ nephew, Mark Dick, and former U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio.

A member of the SAR chapter, who asked that his name not be used, cleaned and repainted the existing monuments with the help of Ken Currier.

Richards said the DAR’s contribution came to fruition thanks to donations from members and financial support from the DAR national organization, the Oakland Foundation and the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation. Mark LaFrance, president of the SAR chapter, said members’ donations and the national SAR’s George Washington Endowment Foundation funded theirs.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Members of the James Wood Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution look over the bench they dedicated Saturday at Parkersburg City Park, discussing where additional names of Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Wood County could be added. Past Regent Jane Richards, second from right, said the local Sons of the American Revolution chapter recently found another who should be included.

The names of the following soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War and are buried in Wood County are engraved on a bench dedicated Saturday at Parkersburg City Park:

– Peter Anderson

– James Athey

– John Bills

– John Brookover

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Jane Richards, left, past regent of the James Wood Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, speaks during a dedication of two benches and a flagpole honoring Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Wood County Saturday afternoon at Parkersburg City Park, as Captain James Neal Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution President Mark LaFrance and DAR chapter Regent Susan Nutter listen.

– Phillip Dils

– Thomas Douglas

– Elijah Gates

– John Gillespie

– Francis Keller

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Ted Cox, president of the West Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and a member of the local Captain James Neal chapter, salutes as members of the chapter’s color guard present flags at the dedication of benches and a flagpole honoring Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Wood County Saturday at Parkersburg City Park.

– John Sheets

– John Spencer

– Joseph Spencer

– Phillip Wigal