Memorial Day ceremonies in West Chester are organized each year by local veterans groups VFW Post 7696 and American Legion Post 681.
On Monday, a morning Memorial Day Parade makes its way down Cincinnati-Dayton Road through the historic Olde West Chester business district to West Chester Cemetery (a.k.a. Brookside Cemetery) on West Chester Road for a special remembrance ceremony.
While the parade is in motion, members of the West Chester ~ Union Township Historical Society read aloud the names of all veterans interred at the cemetery where 800 are laid to rest, including 100 Civil War veterans and one Revolutionary War veteran.
Motorists should expect Cincinnati Dayton Road to close between about 10 and 11 a.m. for the parade.
Barney was a high school Freshman in New Orleans when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor prompting him to join the Junior ROTC. He began his undergraduate studies at LSU but soon transferred to West Point Military academy, graduating in 1951. He was assigned to the newly formed Air Force and started flight training, where he flew the F-85 fighter jet.
After training he received orders to travel to Korea for operations with the 18th fighter bomber wing at K55 air base. His accomplishments included supporting air cover of the evacuation of the Tachen Islands (China). After returning to the US, he received special flight training and clearance to sample atomic bomb clouds. These tests were performed over the Marshall Islands using modified F-84’s and included 4 atomic and 1 hydrogen bomb. Barney was honorably discharged from duty in 1970 after 20 years of active and reserve service. His medals include the National Defense, United Nations Service, Korean Service, Outstanding Unit and Air Medal.
Barney’s professional accomplishments include a 33-year career in the jet engine department of General Electric with simultaneous service as chairman of the Fairfield zoning board until 2005. He currently serves on the Fairfield Veterans Memorial Committee and is an active member of the League of WW1 aviation historians.
