Fleetweek Sailors Help to Reclaim Historic Cemetery on Staten Island

Fleet Week Sailors Help to Reclaim Historic Staten Island Cemetery

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Paul Dillard, Fleet Week New York Public Affairs

NEW YORK (NNS) -- A U.S. Navy chaplain consecrated the hallowed ground of Staten Island's historic Lake Cemetery on May 23, honoring hundreds of veterans as Memorial Day weekend approached during Fleet Week New York 2008.

Fifteen Sailors from USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) and USS Nitze (DDG 94) joined Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) members from Port Richmond High School to replace weather-worn American flags at veterans' gravesites.

"I was pretty honored. We started off going to clean a cemetery and wound up re-sanctifying a cemetery full of Soldiers, Sailors and civilians, reaffirming the honor of the fallen in the eyes of the Lord. That's just cool," said Sonar Technician Seaman Edward Arthur Jobst, who serves aboard The Sullivans.

Lt. Brian Weigelt,  a chaplin with Destroyer Squadron 22 based out of Norfolk, Va., is serving the crews of The Sullivans and Nitze during Fleet Week. "This is the first time I've consecrated a cemetery," he said. "I wound up doing a lot of research to learn how and it was very interesting."

Lake Cemetery is one of 19 such sites that the nonprofit organization Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries earmarked for reclamation. The Staten Island cemetery dates to the 1830s and was land donated by local farmer Joseph Lake for a non-denominational cemetery.

Since the 1960s, the cemetery has lain neglected and abandoned. By the time Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries intervened, Lake Cemetery had long been used as a dumping ground for local construction projects and was covered in everything from lumber scraps to discarded kitchen sinks.

"As we reclaimed it, we noticed there were at least 125 Civil War veterans here, and almost an equal amount of World War I veterans. There's also quite a number of Navy veterans here," said Lynn Rogers, executive director for Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries.

Sailors and JROTC cadets paired off to replace flags at gravesites of veterans.

"This is definitely a community remembrance day, especially on Memorial Day weekend," said Chris Walters, activities coordinator at Port Richmond High School. "A lot of veterans are here. It's a good chance to help our students appreciate the sacrifices community members have made for us in the world. If you look at their faces, they're all smiling to be here, and especially to meet current military personnel who are serving."

Diane Gerber, of Staten Island Fleet Week, Inc., donated a flag presented to her at the funeral of her father, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Robert Siebold, a Vietnam War veteran. An honor guard exchanged Gerber's flag for a worn flag flying over the cemetery. Intermediate School 51's trumpet section played "Taps" as the honor guard folded the worn flag. Children from IS51 then threw red, white and blue confetti.

"This was a really good opportunity to reach out to the people of New York," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Lee H. Shamp of The Sullivans. "We appreciate all their support and hospitality. I mean, I love New York. The city is fast paced but the people are friendly."

For more news from Navy Office of Information East, visit www.navy.mil/local/navinfoeast/.