Black veterans remembered as VFW places flags on graves at Staunton's Fairview Cemetery

STAUNTON — James Fye is a member of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. During the winter, when trails are sometimes not accessible, the group will walk around downtown Staunton. In February, Fye led what he called a cemetery walk.

When Fye walked through Fairview Cemetery, he saw a lot of veterans' graves. Fye is also a member of VFW Post 7814, Thomas Fields. He contacted his quartermaster, Melissa Patrick, and asked what, if anything, people in the community do for those veterans on Memorial Day. That answer, at least in the last decade, was not much.

Patrick said that, as far as she is aware, no flags had been placed on the graves at Fairview since 2010. She has photos from that year, so it's possible something has been done more recently, but she knows the VFW post hasn't been involved since then.

Fairview Cemetery is Staunton's largest African-American cemetery. Located on Lambert Street, it is directly across the street from the city's main post office. VFW Post 7814 is historically African-American post, chartered in 1946 following World War II to serve Black veterans who were denied membership in other VFW posts. Many of the veterans buried in Fairview were members of the Thomas-Fields VFW Post 7814.

The VFW joined with David Kane and Steven Holloway, who have been active in documenting all of the African American cemeteries in Augusta County, to place flags on the veterans' graves at Fairview Thursday morning ahead of Memorial Day.

"I think it's hugely important," Patrick said. "Memorial Day is set aside as a time to recognize those who sacrificed their lives in service to the nation. It's customary to mark the graves of veterans, whether they were killed in war or not, on that day. We owe it to these veterans for their service and sacrifice that they made to protect our freedoms. Now days, in 21st century America, I think we kind of take our freedoms for granted."

Seven people in total — members of the post, auxiliary and community members — met at 9 a.m. Thursday, placing about 140 flags on individual markers.

Fye had an unofficial list of where the graves were located. Some had government headstones or markers, making it easier to identify veterans. Some commercial headstones had plaques placed in front identifying the deceased as a veteran. Those graves were the only ones they were certain were veterans, although there could be more of which they aren't aware.

There was one flag placed at the gravesite of Emma Wilson, who died in 1931. The Staunton woman was the mother of Cpl. William White of the 10th United States Cavalry, the first Buffalo soldier killed in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Her tombstone is engraved with "War Mother."

"War mother is the equivalent of what today we call the Gold Star mother," Patrick said. "Her marker is special because she lost her son in combat."

Patrick said that the post was honored to be able to place the flags on Thursday.

"Although our post is no longer all Black, we are proud to keep alive the memories and heritage of our African-American citizens who served," Patrick said. "That's part of what we're doing here today."

Justine Carter-Moats is with the VFW auxiliary. Her brother, Charles Lewis Carter, who served in the United States Army and died in 2020, was a member of the VFW Post 7814. Carter-Moats was one of those who helped on Thursday.

"This is to honor all those who served in the military and have passed on," she said. "A lot of people may have forgotten them, but America wouldn't be America without the people who stand at the gate."

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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Memorial Day: VFW Post 7814 honors Black veterans at Fairview Cemetery