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Tour Of The Hallowed Grounds  Overview of Some Significant Renovation Projects Slated for Fiscal Year 2025 Ensuring That Gravesites & Grounds Maintained Within National Cemetery Administration Standards    Listed    in   National   Register   of   Historic   Places   and   Located   Upon   Approximately   1.4   acres   of   Sacred Grounds   Contiguous   to   the   Facilities   of   an   Active   Military   Base   and   Facilities   Known   as   the   St. Francis Barracks, The State Headquarters of the Florida National Guard.   Friday 14 March 2025       On    Tuesday    morning    25    February    2025    under    the    leadership    of    Chairman    Pat    Welch,    Vice- Chairwoman    Maria    Hirsch,    Former    Chairman    Bill    Dudley,    and    St.    Augustine    Historian    Alison Simpson,   a   large   Team   of   our   Support   Committee   was   given   an   in-depth   and   very   comprehensive tour of this iconic, “non-staffed”, historic national cemetery.    Alison   is   the   Command   Historian   for   the   Florida   National   Guard   and   is   responsible   for   conducting both    research    of,    and    leading    tours    of,    the    cemetery.    Bill    is    a    current    Member    of    our    Support Committee   and   serves   as   the   current   Chairman   of   the   Veterans   Council   of   St.   Johns   County.   Bill   and his   team   of   local   veterans   living   in   the   St.   Augustine   area   constantly   focus   upon   supporting   both   the operations   of   and   conducting   many   of   the   high-profile   ceremonies   held   at   these   hallowed   grounds, including,    but    not    limited    to    both    of    the    following    annual    events:    Memorial    Day    in    May,    and Wreaths-Across-America in December.    This   cemetery   has   approximately   2,800   interments   and   is   operated   for   the   VA   National   Cemetery Administration   by   the   Jacksonville   Cemetery   Staff.   Except   in   certain   instances,   it   is   currently   closed to   new   interments.   The   first   interment   took   place   in   1828:   the   first   burials   were   soldiers   stationed at    St.    Francis    Barracks    and    veterans    of    the    Indian    Wars.    The    only    interments    that    are    being accepted    now    are    subsequent    burials    for    veterans    or    eligible    family    members    in    an    existing gravesite.   Periodically,   burial   space   may   become   available   due   to   a   canceled   reservation   or   when   a disinterment   has   been   completed.   When   either   of   these   scenarios   occurs,   the   gravesite   is   made available   to   another   eligible   veteran   on   a   first-come,   first-served   basis.   It   should   be   noted   that   in March 2025 there will be a burial which conforms with the “exception regulations”.    As   a   follow-up   to   the   February   Tour,   on   March   14 ^th    ,   2025 ,   Chris   Morris,   the   Director   of   both   the Jacksonville   and   the   St.   Augustine   National   Cemeteries   gave   Pat   Welch   and   Marie   Hirsch   of   the Support    Committee    Leadership    Team    a    briefing    of    some    significant    renovation    and    upgrade programs   which   are   currently   slated   for   and   underway   at   the   St.   Augustine   Cemetery   regarding: Roads;   Dade’s   Pyramids;   the   Historic   Wall;   Main   Flagpole;   Public   Restrooms;   the   Rostrum   Area;   and the Lodge.     As    shown    in    the    picture    above,    t he    cemetery    is    home    to    the    Dade’s    Monument.    The    Dade’s Monument    is    composed    of    three    pyramids    constructed    of    native    coquina    stone    and    originally covered   with   white   stucco.   The   pyramids   were   dedicated   at   a   ceremony   on   August   15,   1842,   that marked   the   end   of   the   Florida   Indian   Wars.   The   structures   cover   vaults   that   contain   the   remains   of soldiers   who   died   during   the   Florida   Indian   Wars   (1835–1842).   According   to   the   inscription   on   the monument,   the   wars   began   on   December   25,   1835.   Three   days   later,   Maj.   Francis   L.   Dade   and   his regiment   were   enroute   from   Fort   Brooke   (Tampa)   to   Fort   King   (Ocala)   when   they   were   ambushed and   killed.   Of   the   108   men   and   officers   under   his   command,   only   two   or   three   survived.   Maj.   Dade and his men are among those entombed at the pyramids.    Also,   the   cemetery   includes   a   historic   lodge   that   is   leased   by   the   Florida   Army   National   Guard   and will   concurrently   undergo   a   “historic   rehabilitation   project”   in   conjunction   with   the   renovations   to this facility already mentioned above.

March 2025 Support Committee Update On The Historic St. Augustine National Cemetery        The Iconic Dade Pyramids

          Padraic E. “Pat” Mulvihill                    Public Information Officer         4083 Lannie Road JAX FL 32218         904.534.0035 / pem@axisp.com