MacDill Airforce Base officials officially identified the location of the misplaced Port Tampa cemetery. This burial ground holds historical significance as many Black families were buried there during the segregation era.
An archaeological survey at the Tampa, Florida, base pinpointed 121 graves. This year, the MacDill officials further explored the surrounding area. The aim is to discover additional possible graves, which may contribute to understanding the cemetery’s importance. According to ABC News, the ongoing effort by the base authorities has garnered attention.
2nd Lt. Laura M. Anderson, a U.S. Air Force MacDill Base public officer, made a statement. “It’s a solemn feeling to know that one of Tampa’s lost cemeteries is located here where we live and work.” She expressed.
“But with that also comes a sense of closure, rediscovering Port Tampa cemetery,” she added. “This means we can now pay our respects to those who have been laid to rest here. Knowing they are no longer a forgotten part of the history.”
In 2019, the Tampa Bay History Center contacted the MacDill Air Force Base. Their objective was to apprise the base authorities of a discovery. The discovery was the likelihood that the Port Tampa cemetery was within the base.
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Notably, this discovery was due to the researcher’s examination of records dating back to 1939. Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa Bay History Center historian, played a vital role in the discovery process. He stated, “I used that information and looked at maps we had at the History Center. I was able to locate pretty much where that cemetery should have been.”
He continued, “It is now the property of the federal government and MacDill Air Force Base, but at that time, it was not.” Within a year, base officials successfully discovered that the cemetery lay close to the Tanker Waygate.
Subsequently, in 2022 and 2023, officials conducted a careful archaeological survey. This survey revealed 121 likely graves in the area identified as the location for the African American Cemetery. Moreover, Yvette Lewis, President of the NAACP Hillsborough County Branch, shared the significance of this discovery.
Speaking to ABC News on Friday, she said, “For the Black Community, it means a lot. Some individuals were unaware that their ancestors were buried in these graves.” She continued, “So that right there is a sign of relief that we located the missing or stolen African cemeteries.”
Officials confirmed that ongoing research and surveys of the area will continue throughout 2024. With various methods, including cadaver dogs, ground-penetrating records, and more, the team anticipates results around mid-2025.
Additionally, Anderson stated, “We are extending our research area to the north of where the majority of the gravesites of Port Tampa cemetery are.” She continued, “This is to ensure we accurately define the boundaries of the cemetery and do not miss anything.”
In 2021, the base honored those buried by dedicating an on-site memorial. Looking ahead, Anderson expressed the intention to collaborate with community stakeholders. They will be able to determine the next steps for the Port Tampa cemetery memorial following the conclusion of the extended search.
Also, Lewis advocates for a thoughtful course of action. She suggests that the graves should be cleared and reinstated as a cemetery. Furthermore, she envisions accompanying this with a plaque narrating the cemetery’s story.
She stated, “This is a heavy subject, and it fills our hearts because our loved ones are not able to rest. It hurts because we’re speaking for those who are definitely, of course, not able to speak for themselves.” Finally, she expressed, “We have to right this wrong, and somebody needs to fix this part of history.”
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