New landscaping completes major phase of Holmes County veterans memorial
Roots Lawn Service installed extensive landscaping at the Holmes County Veterans Memorial during October, adding plants, sandstone rocks and nearly 30 tons of soil to finish another phase of the site. The work enhances a memorial that honors local service members, reduces future maintenance costs through hardy plant choices, and keeps fundraising efforts in motion to complete the project.
Construction crews and volunteers have completed the latest phase of the Holmes County Veterans Memorial on Glen Drive next to the Holmes County District Public Library, with landscaping installed across the site during October. The new plantings follow earlier additions that included a flag, benches, pavers, a central memorial and a commemorative wall, and mark another tangible step toward the committee's goal of a finished space to honor county service members who fought, died or remain missing in action.
Roots Lawn Service led the landscaping work, with owner Travis Raber and his team donating time, equipment and materials. “We’re proud and honored to be able to do this for the veterans,” Raber said. “When they approached me about doing something with this, I immediately said yes because of everything they have done for our country and our community.” Travis and Trevor Raber moved nearly 30 tons of dirt to level and grade the site for drainage, placed sandstone rocks, and planted shrubs and perennials. Many of the plants were supplied by Fredericksburg Greenhouse.
The veterans committee selected a red, white and blue theme for the plant palette to reflect the monument's colors and to reinforce the site as a place of remembrance. Species were chosen for their hardiness and low maintenance to limit long term upkeep needs for the community and the committee. Because the work was donated, the committee preserved budgeted funds for future phases, while local suppliers and laborers benefited from material purchases and volunteer coordination.
For Holmes County residents the finished landscaping improves the pedestrian and visual environment near the library and the downtown area, creating a focal point for ceremonies, family visits and civic events. Public memorials also carry indirect economic effects by enhancing downtown appeal, which can modestly support nearby businesses during events and draw visitors seeking local points of interest. The committee emphasized continued fundraising needs, noting that grants and donations remain necessary to finish the wider memorial project.
Local officials and community members seeking to support the effort can send donations to Holmes County Veterans Memorial, 75 E. Clinton St., Suite 104, Millersburg, OH 44654. As the project progresses, the memorial will increasingly serve as both a symbolic site of remembrance and an example of civic partnership, where donated private resources and volunteer labor have advanced a public good while keeping ongoing maintenance plans practical and affordable.
