NORFOLK, Va., (WVEC) -- The Berkley community came together to observe Memorial Day at Mount Olive Cemetery in Norfolk on Monday.
Organizers said they don't know exactly how many military members are laid to rest in the all-African-American cemetery. Cemeteries, including Mount Olive, were segregated a long time ago back when Memorial Day was called 'Decoration Day,' which makes it difficult to determine the exact number of service members.
Berkley Historical Society President, Anne Boone, said more than 100 veterans were buried in this graveyard.
Many people in the community are rallying around the cemetery, which had been neglected.
During the celebration on Monday, drummers and members of the Berkeley community remembered military members who died.
"So here we are today, and I say again, we stand on sacred ground,” said Boone.
However, she said this place often went overlooked, "but we recognize it because these are our family members, our loved ones, and our veterans served like everybody else."
A Norfolk city employee said the cemetery is private property, and no one really knows who owns the land.
Regardless of who owns it, the Norfolk Sheriff, Mayor, and Police Chief joined the Berkley community in a wreath-laying ceremony.
Sheriff Joseph Baron helped clean around the graves while he was at the ceremony. Many community members have rallied around the cemetery over the past few years because it used to be neglected.
"It's an opportunity to let the community know that we care about them," said Baron.
Norfolk’s American Legion's Post Five board members laid the flower wreaths on the ground of the cemetery.
"A couple years back people were dumping trash and everything," said Commander Rodney Drummond. "Makes me feel good, and I just hope that one day when I'm gone some other veterans will pick it up and keep the tradition going."
For relatives of people buried here, they said it's important to take this day to remember our nation's fallen heroes.
Ahriellea Vell said a family member of hers is buried on Mount Olive.
"Not just Memorial Day, but always. Come out clean a grave off, put down a flag,” said Vell.
97-year-old Josephine F. Scott also attended the community festivities.
"To get together and show that we remember them, that remembrance is a wonderful thing,” said Scott. "That love and that feeling for one another, has always been."
She said she hopes to attend the next three Memorial Day celebrations here as well with this tight-knit community.
Boone said members of the Berkley Historical Society, reached out to the Veterans Administration to get a monument identifying the veterans out there.
► Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13News Now App.