After nearly eight decades, Platoon Sergeant Harold M. Weaver, a proud son of Cuyahoga Falls, is finally coming home. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) confirmed his identification in 2023, bringing long-awaited closure to his family and our community.
The public is invited to join in welcoming Sergeant Weaver home at a community ceremony on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 11 a.m. in the Military Section of Oakwood Cemetery, 2420 Oakwood Drive. Parking is available at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium, 2345 4th Street. The military service will include a welcome by Mayor Don Walters, a scripture reading and prayer by Rev. Kyle McQuinn, and a Marine Corps Presentation. Following the ceremony, he will be laid to rest next to his parents during a private burial in the cemetery.
Born in Cuyahoga Falls on September 4, 1917, to Lewis Rollin and Marie (Patterson) Weaver, Sergeant Weaver graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School, and attended Kent State University before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1941.
As a Marine in Love Company, Third Battalion, 7th Marines, Sergeant Weaver served bravely in some of the most pivotal battles of World War II, including Guadalcanal, Peleliu, and Okinawa. On May 4, 1945, during a Japanese counterattack on Okinawa, he and many of his fellow Marines made the ultimate sacrifice. Their remains were buried on the battlefield, with many left unidentified. He was declared permanently non-recoverable in 1950.
In 2016, the Japanese government returned remains to the United States. Through advanced forensic testing, the DPAA identified Sergeant Weaver in 2023—ensuring he will finally be laid to rest with honor.
“This homecoming is not only a moment for his family but for all of Cuyahoga Falls to remember, reflect, and give thanks for his service and sacrifice,” stated Mayor Don Walters.