Fort Ward’s Lost Graves: More Top-Down City Decisions at Fort Ward
Fort Ward Park is the largest park in Alexandria and the area is used and enjoyed by residents from all over the city and the region. People visit the park for Civil War history, walking, birding, nature, open space, picnics, concerts, dog walking, and to visit the graves of their families. Most recently because of citizen interest a great deal of time and attention has focused on the African American community that existed on the land after the Civil War and before the creation of the park. Many of the descendants of these families who lived and are buried in the park continue to reside in Alexandria.
Fort Ward’s lost graves have received considerable media attention lately as City of Alexandria officials defend their unilateral-decision to end the recent search for additional graves in Fort Ward Historic Park. Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria and the voice of historic preservation at Fort Ward, offered reporters various reasons for why the work has been abruptly ended. Most troubling is that the City’s press release with news of the decision was shared with the media rather than the members of the Fort Ward Park & Museum Advisory Group, Fort Ward History Work Group, and the descendants of those buried in the the park.
Also troubling is the news that additional research decisions about the lost graves will be decided sometime in the future by a management plan to be prepared by consultants with input from the Advisory Group and approved by the City Council--provided funds are available.
The City’s recent action demonstrated a lack of commitment to the leadership groups the City Council created to guide and assist future decisions at the park. It is also disrespectful to the families with graves at Fort Ward. City officials made time to publicize their decision to numerous media outlets but couldn’t take any time to contact those Alexandria resident’s most directly connected to the park and the City’s work.
The City’s comments to the media also attempt to pretend that Alexandria’s government officials have been unaware of graves in the park. "We've been working since 2009 after it was brought to the city's attention that there may be some unmarked graves in the park, "said Lance Mallamo, the Historic Alexandra Office director. (Interview with Kathy Stewart, WTOP. September 10, 2012)
Mr. Mallamo’s comments would make it seem that City leaders only recently learned of the “possible” graves in Fort Ward Park and that their recent preservation effort is in response to this “news”. As a recent newcomer to Alexandria, Mr. Mallamo’s sense of history is truncated and incorrect. The City has known about the graves for at least five decades and has been negligent in the way it has cared for these sacred places.
For example, in 1962 the Alexandria City Council provided funds to a consultant to assist the Recreation Department create “The General Plan” [for Fort Ward Park]. The plan allocated use areas and identified cemeteries within the park including the Jackson Family burial area, the Old Grave Yard, and the Adams Family burial area.
In the report “1991 Excavations at Fort Ward Park” by Francine W. Bromberg, Alexandria Archaeology; Abstract Number 1. October 1991 several graves within the park near the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.
In 1996 an oral history interview and video tape of Sgt. Lee Thomas Young, as a part of “Alexandria Legacies”, was conducted by Pat Knock in Fort Ward Park for the City of Alexandria’s Office of Historic Alexandria. The interview, which was repeated in 2009 by Office of Historic Alexandria staff and managers revealed that there are numerous graves within the park’s maintenance yard. Other interviews were conducted through the City Oral History Program and other interviews revealed graves within the park.
In 2007 a community leader contacted Mr. Mallamo about damage to headstones located in the Old Grave Yard of Fort Ward Park. The request was referred to the former Deputy Director of the Recreation Department Roger Blakeley.
Director Mallamo has been criticized by members of the Fort Ward & Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc. and the Fort Ward History Work Group for his reluctance to complete the search for other graves in the park. Although these interests appreciate the recent support of City Council members and the leaders of the Office of Historic Alexandria the work that was funded by Council is incomplete.
Members of the Society and the History Work Group have repeatedly requested City officials to complete the following work before decisions are made on the management plan for Fort Ward Park.
- Oral history interviews of 25, or so, family members with first hand information about the families and people buried in the park;
- Oral history interviews of city employees who have first hand knowledge of graves; and,
- Research on various verbal and written information that indicates additional graves are in the park.
Mr. Mallamo once told the members of the Fort Ward Park & Museum Advisory Group that he listens to public input and occasionally uses ideas he hears. However, he and his staff are trained professions who are hired by the City to make the best decisions for Alexandria. Ending the search for Fort Ward’s lost graves is not in the best interest of the City of Alexandria and all of it’s residents. This is one time Mr. Mallamo would do well to listen to the public he serves and work with the partners that have supported the City Council’s efforts to correct the mistakes of the past.
