Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Veteran initiates cemetery cleanup
Military veteran Meghan Fitzpatrick initiates Lindley Hill Cemetery cleanup
DOWNINGTOWN » Military veteran Meghan Fitzpatrick was taught to never leave a fallen comrade behind and that Warrior Ethos runs through her veins.
Fitzpatrick, who lives in Downingtown, was out running when she passed a cemetery that looked as if it had been left unkept for several years. Upon further inspection, Fitzpatrick realized that many of the tombstones contained the names of AfricanAmerican Veterans who fought in the Civil War, World War I and World War II. Fitzpatrick had to do something.
“I am a veteran myself, serving for almost nine years in the US Army including two deployments to Afghanistan,” Fitzpatrick said. “The Warrior Ethos taught me to ‘never leave a fallen comrade.’”
She took a photograph of the cemetery and reached out to Downingtown Mayor Josh Maxwell for support.
“I want to honor the veterans, their families and all those interred at Lindley Hill by cleaning up the cemetery and raising awareness,” Fitzpatrick said. “I am so grateful for Mayor Maxwell and the Downingtown community for taking up this cause.”
Fitzpatrick and Maxwell discovered that the cemetery was owned by Bethel AME Church of Downingtown.
“I pledged to the congregation that as a community we would give these soldiers the respect
they deserve by cleaning up the cemetery,” Maxwell said. “So after to talking with Rev. Lackey and Ms. Fitzpatrick, we decided to host a cleanup of the cemetery on the morning of the Downingtown Christmas Parade on Dec. 9.”
Lackey, Pastor Bethel AME Downingtown, cited Psalms 116:15, which states, “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”
“On behalf of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Downingtown, thank you to Mayor Josh Maxwell and the Downingtown community for your willingness to come out and support us with the cleanup
of Lindley Hill Cemetery,” Lackey said. “We are excited to join with you on this day as we honor veterans and others buried at this site.”
Several of the soldiers were Coatesville residents who volunteered with the first volunteer AfricanAmerican regime in the Civil War, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
Joining the coalition of supporters were non-profit leaders from Coatesville such as Fonz Newsuan of the Movement Community Development Corporation. “Members of the Coatesville African-American Community fought in the Civil War, WWI and WWII, honorably and with distinction,” Newsuan said. “MCDC joins our entire community in helping to honor their memory by cleaning up Lindley Hill
Cemetery, and taking some time to learn about their important service to preserving our great country. Coatesville loves its veterans.”
A social media campaign
began and within several days. Veteran Markers and American Flags were donated by Donohue Funeral Home in Downingtown and several landscaping companies pledged their support.