In Tampa, Florida, a dedicated group of volunteers gathered at Oaklawn Cemetery to preserve the city’s rich history ahead of Memorial Day. This effort brought together members of The Cemetery Society, Tampa Firefighters Local 754, and Tampa Parks and Recreation, all working to maintain one of Tampa’s oldest and most significant historic sites.
Volunteers spent their Saturday cleaning grave markers and adorning the cemetery with flowers and American flags. This annual tradition, organized by The Cemetery Society, selects different cemeteries each year for restoration and preservation efforts. Aileen Henderson, the founder of The Cemetery Society, emphasized the importance of remembering those interred. ‘They say, when you place the flower on the headstone, we ask them to say the person’s name. Because they say that when you say their name out loud, their memory lives on forever,’ Henderson explained.
Historical Significance
Established in 1850, Oaklawn Cemetery is recognized as Tampa’s first cemetery, containing approximately 1,700 graves. It serves as the final resting place for many of Tampa’s early leaders and residents, including former mayors, judges, attorneys, and business leaders who played pivotal roles in shaping the city. The cemetery also holds the graves of veterans from the Civil War and Indian Wars, as well as a Confederate mass grave. Among those buried are William and Nancy Ashley, the couple for whom Ashley Drive is named.
Community Involvement
Organizers of the event highlighted that historic cemeteries offer more than just a place of remembrance. ‘These just aren’t cemeteries,’ Henderson noted. ‘They are walking museums, they’re educational and it tells you where we came from.’ She added that one of the most rewarding aspects of the cleanup is witnessing younger generations engage in preserving local history.
Jeremy Finney, treasurer of Tampa Firefighters Local 754, expressed the significance of participating in the cleanup as a way to honor veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. ‘As someone who serves, I feel it’s part of our duty to recognize those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial Day,’ Finney said.
Ongoing Efforts
The restoration at Oaklawn Cemetery is one of several initiatives organized by The Cemetery Society. Earlier this month, volunteers also gathered to help restore Woodlawn Cemetery in Tampa, continuing the group’s ongoing preservation work.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
