The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs announced Tuesday that it is working with multiple state agencies to either repair or relocate the exposed casket of Private First Class Samuel Pierre Jr., a 22‑year‑old Korean War soldier who died on July 1, 1952. Pierre’s remains lie in a brick burial structure at Sweet Olive Cemetery in Baton Rouge that collapsed, leaving the casket visible.
Legal and funding hurdles
Department Secretary Charlton Meginley said the next steps depend on the outcome of an ongoing legal process. “The costs, and how they will be funded, will depend on the outcome of the legal process,” said Daniele Palen, a spokesperson for the department. “There will likely be no cost estimate until that process is complete.” Louisiana law requires either family consent or a court order before a grave can be moved or repaired, and the department has not identified any living immediate family members for Pierre. Records show his mother died in 1970 and no spouse, children, or siblings are listed.
Unclear ownership of Sweet Olive Cemetery
Sweet Olive Cemetery has not held a state license since 2000, and the Louisiana Cemetery Board has been unable to verify ownership. Two nonprofit groups—Friends of Sweet Olive Cemetery and Sweet Olive Cemetery Inc.—claim some control, but neither has provided documentation of legal title, Cemetery Board Director Jerry Sullivan said. “Despite efforts to work with these groups for years, no license could be issued for these years as there has never been a completed application submitted that complies with law,” Sullivan explained.
The board also noted that the cemetery does not provide perpetual care, and state law does not obligate any particular entity to maintain the grounds or individual graves. Grants may be available for tomb and burial vault repairs, but no funding has yet been committed to Pierre’s grave.
Historical significance
Sweet Olive Cemetery spans roughly five acres and contains about 5,500 burials, including the remains of people who died while enslaved and their descendants, according to the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation. The site was placed on the Trust’s endangered places list in 2023 because graves and vaults are packed so tightly that navigating the grounds often requires stepping from one vault to another.
“Our fallen and their Gold Star families have given this country everything, and they deserve better than this,” Secretary Meginley said in the department’s announcement.
Next steps
The department has already contacted the Cemetery Board, the state Division of Archaeology, and the attorney general’s office. It is also reviewing records for any complaints dating back to 2000. While temporary protective measures have not been detailed, officials emphasized that any action will follow legal requirements and await a court’s decision on ownership and funding.
Louisiana residents who wish to support the preservation of historic graves or learn about potential grant opportunities are encouraged to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Cemetery Board for further information.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
