Alexandria City Leaders Continue Cover Up at Fort Ward Park January 15, 2015

Alexandria City Leaders Continue Cover Up at Fort Ward Park
January 15, 2015
J. Glenn Eugster
Fort Ward Observer

According to sources within the City of Alexandria Steve Tompkins, a member of the Recreation Department, was directed by city managers to remove African American gravestones and markers from burial areas within Fort Ward Park in 1979.

A current city employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, attended a meeting on Fort Ward Park in 2009 with Mr. Tompkins and members of the Office of Historic Alexandria, the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services, and other city leaders. Mr. Tompkins reminisced about working through a grant the city received for the park. He explained that he was told to remove the grave stones and markers but couldn’t recall where he took them. He noted that he had just become a city employee and the work he did to clear the area wasn’t an issue. 

The alleged desecration of these sacred places has re-opened old wounds between city leaders and Alexandria’s African American community. Family burial areas in Fort Ward Park, as well as other places such as T.C. Williams High School, have been ignored while the city has pursued other public needs. The sensitivity between races, and what seems to be latent racism continues to delay resolving the search for Fort Ward’s lost graves.

Some of those who attended the meeting have no recollection of Mr. Tompkins comments and were unwilling to meet to discuss information about these city actions. Other city managers indicated that the grave stones were not removed and that Mr. Tompkins did not work for the city at that time. One city manager, in response to information requests made to the city and discussions with staff, indicated that he thought that Mr. Tompkins was the person who removed the grave stones and markers.

Research reveals Mr. Tompkins did work for the City of Alexandria on a grant that involved work on Fort Ward Park in 1979. 

Requests made to the Office of Historic Alexandria by the Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc., Oakland Baptist Church, and the Seminary Civic Association to interview Mr. Tompkins and others who have knowledge of burial areas within Fort Ward Park have been unsuccessful. Mr. Tompkins did not reply for a request for information.

As the draft management plan for Fort Ward Park and Museum moves forward through the City Council review and approval process city leaders should help locate Fort Ward’s lost graves rather than contribute to the cover-up.