Chesco To Honor Black Vets At Coatesville Cemetery Wednesday

COATESVILLE, PA — The Old Evergreen Cemetery in Coatesville was once segregated, so it is a place where only Black veterans are laid to rest. Chester County officials and the community are gathering Wednesday to honor those vets.

The cemetery was constructed when segregation was still prominent in the United States and it contains gravesites solely of African Americans, many of whom belonged to the Hayti community of Valley Township.

The cemetery at 206 Cemetery Road in Coatesville was filled to capacity in the 1960s before the founding of the New Evergreen Cemetery adjacent extension. On May 26, military veterans laid to rest there will receive special honor.

In observance of Memorial Day, officials from Chester County will join community organizations in placing flags and markers on veteran gravesites at Old Evergreen Cemetery.

The ownership of Old Evergreen Cemetery has remained ambiguous over decades and thus gone abandoned and unattended, except by a single family who has descendants interred on-site and local volunteers who have attempted to care for its grounds over the past several years, according to a news statement from the Chester County Commissioners' Office.

This memorial collaboration aims to sustain and distinguish this important historical site now and in the future, the county said.

The event is a collaboration between Recorder of Deeds Chris Pielli, a veteran of the U.S. Army; cemetery volunteer caretaker Teresa Graham and family; and Chaplain Bob McGonigle of the V.F.W. Post 287 in an effort to honor local fallen heroes and unite the community. A short ceremony will include remarks from county and local officials and the placing of flags and markers at roughly 50 gravesites by participants, local veteran and volunteer groups.

Official present will be:

• Chester County Recorder of Deeds Chris Pielli and Teresa Graham and family
• Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline
• Chester County Veteran Affairs Director Susan Price
• Elected officials to include U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-6th) and PA State Rep. Dan Williams (D-74)
• Valley Township Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Patrice Proctor.

Events begin on Wednesday, May 26 at 1 p.m. rain or shine. Opening Ceremonies are from 1-1:15 p.m. At 1:15 p.m. there will be remarks from officials and dignitaries. The placement of flags and markers on veteran gravesites is at approximately 1:40 p.m.

Also in attendance on Wednesday will be:

• Coatesville Area Senior High School AFJROTC PA-771 Cadets
• Members of the Coatesville V.F.W. Post 287
• Chester County Prothonotary Debbie Bookman
• Chester County Marine Corps League Detachment #286 – Adjutant Jack Meighan
• Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Bradbury Camp #149 – Officers Andy and Brian Lefko.

Make sure you know what's happening in your town. Sign up to get Patch emails and don't miss any local news: https://patch.com/subscribe.