While researching the 16 or so black soldiers who served in the 1st AL Cav. USV, Glenda McWhirter Todd ordered the Civil War pension records of the ones who filed for a pension, including Samuel Simon West who was an Undercook and Teamster, and found he was buried in Highland Park Cemetery in Warrensville, near Cleveland, Ohio. After contacting the director of the cemetery, she found his grave had not been marked. Glenda completed the form to order West a Union Tombstone from the government, forwarded it to Mr. David Mitchell, director of Highland Park Cemetery, who signed off on it and forwarded it to the government. Mr. Mitchell had the tombstone erected as soon as it arrived and Glenda M. Todd immediately began planning for a Memorial/Dedication Service at the grave site of Mr. West by contacting Mr. Bennie McRae, Civil War Historian with emphasis on the USCT. Mr. McRae contacted Mr. Frederick Smith with the US Colored Troops Re-enactors and he was able to put together a wonderful Memorial Service for Mr. West on 31 May 2008.

Mr. West's tombstone was draped with a black cloth and had an American Flag in front of it. The Color Guard consisted of Boy Scout Troop 812 of the North Coast Ranger Academy, who paraded to the site of the black veiled tombstone marking the grave of Private Samuel Simon West, 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV, Company M, followed by the USCT Reenactors.

Mr. West's obituary was read by Sandi Craighead, long time Civil War and Family Historian from Cleveland, Ohio, and his military history supplied by Ms. Todd was read by Steffon Jones. The USCT re-enactors fired several rounds in salute. Mr. Fred Smith then removed the black veil from the tombstone, and "Taps" were sounded in the background.

Others who participated in the ceremony were: Captain Luther Norman, Boy Scouts of America, Cleveland, Ohio; Steffon Jones, Civil War Historian, Youngstown, Ohio; Bertram Floyd, Military Miniature Creation, Sheffield, Ohio; Dale Henry, Civil War Re-enactor, Springfield, Ohio; and Frederick Smith, Civil War Re-enactor, Youngstown, Ohio. The Color Guard consisted of Boy Scout Troop 812 of the North Coast Ranger Academy.

It is with pride and much research that this Civil War Soldier has finally been recognized for his part in fighting for this country during this horrific war, and his resting place truly deserves to be marked and made known to all. I would like to thank those whose were instrumental in planning and carrying out this memorial service and without whose help, it would have been impossible: Bennie McRae, Frederick Smith, and other re-enactors, Boy Scouts, etc., my dear friend, Juanita Moss who is writing a book, “Forgotten Black Soldiers Who Served in White Regiments During the Civil War”, my dear friend Sandi Craighead who helped me research this soldier and other black soldiers in this regiment, and Mr. David Mitchell, Director of Highland Park Cemetery where Mr. West is buried, who so graciously supplied all of the grave registration and other burial records that helped in the research.

It was Glenda's hope that after perusing several census records of this West family that she could find a living descendant to attend the service but that didn't happen. She would still like to contact some of Samuel Simon West's family if he has any living.