Cemeteries are a place to memorialize loved ones that have passed on before us. They provide a rich history of our past and help shape stories to tell future generations. Cemeteries, like any property, require maintenance, that if left unattended will let those stories fade. That has been the recent case at Union Cemetery, a traditionally African American cemetery that has been in disrepair until now.
The still active cemetery was established in 1881 and has approximately 2,500 people buried there, many of whose graves are unmarked. There are currently over 200 veterans graves as well. graves include those of veterans from World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. However, many of the headstones have sunken so deep, the graves can’t even be seen. An old African-American tradition, possibly based on a Spanish tradition, has the coffin placed inside a vault in many burials, but, instead of being under the ground at least a foot, the vault often is at 6 inches to a foot above ground. Combine that with Florida’s sandy soil, and you’ve got headstones and graves sinking about a foot every decade.
A recent effort by Dan Friend, historian for American Legion Adam Quinn Post 6, wants to save the markers. He organized volunteers that involved a 3-year restoration effort that was recently completed, including a chart for many of the graves. Unfortunately, some of the graves could not be saved or identified. The volunteers completed 53 major jobs digging up sinking headstones, and repositioned more than 20 lighter-weight monuments.
Although incomplete, the chart is a doorway to save history. In an interview with the West Volusia Beacon earlier this year, Friend was quoted saying, “Kids and relatives might now at least have a chance to find that grandfather or other relative from this rough position chart that includes 223 names; and over 50 of the vets whose headstones were raised up out of the sugar sand now are in the sunshine for a few more decades,” Friend said. “It is certain some were lost forever, but we saved many from total obscurity,” he added.
Although many of these Vets didn’t lose their lives in combat, the Union Cemetery is a great way to honor soldiers that were almost lost to history.