Hello Huntsville: A New Way to Honor Our Veterans!
Hey there, lovely folks of Huntsville! We all know our town has strong military roots, which is just one of the many things that make it special. With that in mind, let’s talk about a fascinating and heartfelt new project that’s making it a little easier for us to pay our respects to the heroes who have served. Have you ever taken a stroll through Maple Hill Cemetery? This historical spot is home to the graves of veterans going all the way back to the Revolutionary War!
A Handy New App Just for You
Thanks to the hardworking team at the City’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Department, visitors to Maple Hill Cemetery can now use a brand-new app to locate the graves of our veterans. No more guesswork! This app is a real game-changer that is helping several community organizations plan their flag and wreath placements during special days like Memorial Day, Armed Forces Week, Christmas, and Veterans Day.
Tara Sloan, the City Director of Cemeteries, shared her excitement about this development. She said, “We appreciate the hard work of the City’s GIS Department on this application to ensure veterans are honored.” To put things into perspective, out of the estimated 80,000 to 100,000 individuals buried in Maple Hill Cemetery, a staggering 2,220 are veterans!
A Project of Dedication
But, wait! This wasn’t just a walk in the park. This project was a monumental task for one intern, Will Ford, from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. During the summer of 2024, Will hit the ground running, literally! He ventured across every single acre of the cemetery, armed with a GPS device to collect crucial data. He logged each veteran’s name, their birth and death dates, military branches, and even the wars they fought in!
Amy Kenum, the City GIS Manager, highlighted the team’s passion and commitment, saying, “We really enjoyed capturing this information for the history of Huntsville and to honor the City’s veterans.” Isn’t that fantastic? We can’t help but feel grateful for their hard work!
What’s Next for Maple Hill?
But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Maple Hill is just the pilot program! Tara Sloan is already dreaming big, hoping to extend this honorable data-tracking initiative to other City cemeteries. That means more veterans can be recognized and honored in our community.
Calling All Families!
Now, if you happen to know of any veterans whose graves aren’t listed in the app, don’t hesitate to reach out! Families can simply send an email to Maple-Hill@HuntsvilleAL.gov to provide the missing information. The City wants to ensure every hero gets the recognition they deserve.
How to Use the Veteran Locator App
Curious about how to navigate this incredibly useful app? Just visit maps.HuntsvilleAL.gov/cemetery and utilize the map filters found in the upper right corner to display Maple Hill Veterans. You can even refine your search by military conflict! How cool is that?
With this new app making waves, honoring our veterans has never been easier or more accessible. So, let’s get out there, explore the cemetery, and show our gratitude in the best way possible. After all, our veterans deserve all the love and respect we can give!
