Abandoned Cemeteries Repaired In Honor Of U.S. Veterans

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — After learning of an old cemetery choked with overgrowth and debris where a U.S. veteran was laid to rest, city officials made it their mission to rehabilitate the burial site in honor of the soldier.

The Sergeant Alfred B. Hilton Foundation notified Havre de Grace Mayor William Martin of an abandoned cemetery in "severe disrepair." The foundation pointed out that a U.S. Colored Troops soldier was buried there.

The mayor responded immediately and assigned city staff to partner with the foundation to evaluate the cemetery's condition and identify solutions.

At an August council meeting, Martin went one step further and issued an executive order committing city resources to help identify, restore and maintain any abandoned cemeteries in Havre de Grace that contain the remains of U.S. Colored Troops veterans.

Through a partnership with the Sergeant Alfred B. Hilton Foundation, the city will lead efforts to research property records and provide site maintenance, including the removal of debris and overgrowth.

Christopher Ricci, city administrator for Havre de Grace, told Patch that the restoration project will focus on clearing heavy brush and overgrowth so that grave locations and markers could be identified, documented and restored. Three cemeteries may be involved in the project.

" While volunteers will likely handle the delicate, hands-on documentation and restoration work, the intensive brush removal requires professional intervention. The city administration does not have a final cost estimate yet, but we are actively seeking partnerships with local contractors to help offset the initial clearing expenses," Ricci told Patch.

This initiative ensures that local heroes—notably Corporal Louis H. Hill of the 30th U.S. Colored Infantry—and all fellow USCT heroes are "honored with the dignity and respect that their service demands," Martin said at the city council meeting.

"Every veteran who wore the uniform of the Union Army deserves a dignified, preserved resting place, especially those who served in the United States Colored Troops. These soldiers fought without a safety net, knowing that capture by the Confederate Army meant execution, as they were rarely afforded the luxury of surrender. Their extraordinary bravery demands our enduring respect, and restoring their graves is a vital step in honoring their sacrifice," Ricci said.