Alabama Veterans Cemeteries of Color
Donation protected
While loss of life while fighting for our country was a risk that veterans accepted, never in a million years when they left to fight in military wars did they think they would be forgotten by their country. Unfortunately that is what has happened, over the years for several veterans of color, buried in cemeteries across the state of Alabama, there has been minimal upkeep and in several instances the space has become unrecognizable.
I, myself a Retired Vietnam Veteran along with Sgt. Albert Pope and the Men from the Wyatt Family began a CLEAN-UP initiative earlier this year of the Green Leaf Heights (aka Cat Mountain) cemetery. On Saturday December 12th, @ 6AM, we are asking for at least 100 Veterans, Family Members and Friends to join us as we launch the State-wide CLEAN-UP INITIATIVE for the FIRST of several cemeteries across the state that we plan to restore. The goal is to clean-up (1) Cemetery per month.
When asked why is this important to me, I replied " At first it was important to me because my grandparents along with other family members were buried there, so I would go up there a few time a year to clear off their graves. However I began to notice there were so many veterans also buried there and their graves are in horrible conditions. There are a lot of sunken graves with no markers of both Veterans and civilians dating back to the 1800s. I feel like this is just another racial injustice with WWI, WW2, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans buried there. I too am a Vietnam Veteran and I think the grave sites of all of my brothers and sisters should be treated with respect and cared for. If not now, when? "
Sgt. Pope and I along with the men of the Wyatt Family have used our own money to to start the project, but it will take the help of our entire village near and far to to complete it. My fear is that if nothing is done now, during my lifetime, this cemetery along with several others will be lost.
CASH DONATIONS are NEEDED & APPRECIATED to assist with the purchase equipment rentals, supplies and labor for each cemetery.
I, myself a Retired Vietnam Veteran along with Sgt. Albert Pope and the Men from the Wyatt Family began a CLEAN-UP initiative earlier this year of the Green Leaf Heights (aka Cat Mountain) cemetery. On Saturday December 12th, @ 6AM, we are asking for at least 100 Veterans, Family Members and Friends to join us as we launch the State-wide CLEAN-UP INITIATIVE for the FIRST of several cemeteries across the state that we plan to restore. The goal is to clean-up (1) Cemetery per month.
When asked why is this important to me, I replied " At first it was important to me because my grandparents along with other family members were buried there, so I would go up there a few time a year to clear off their graves. However I began to notice there were so many veterans also buried there and their graves are in horrible conditions. There are a lot of sunken graves with no markers of both Veterans and civilians dating back to the 1800s. I feel like this is just another racial injustice with WWI, WW2, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans buried there. I too am a Vietnam Veteran and I think the grave sites of all of my brothers and sisters should be treated with respect and cared for. If not now, when? "
Sgt. Pope and I along with the men of the Wyatt Family have used our own money to to start the project, but it will take the help of our entire village near and far to to complete it. My fear is that if nothing is done now, during my lifetime, this cemetery along with several others will be lost.
CASH DONATIONS are NEEDED & APPRECIATED to assist with the purchase equipment rentals, supplies and labor for each cemetery.
Organizer
Larry Phillips
Organizer
Birmingham, AL
