UPDATE: Southern Hosts Veterans Day Headstone Cleaning To Preserve Civil War Legacies, Honor Black Soldiers

UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the event has been rescheduled to Thursday, Nov. 20 from 3–5 p.m., with participants still meeting at the SCSU Veterans’ Office (Engleman A014) at 2:45 p.m. for the short walk to the site.

NEW HAVEN, CT — In honor of Veterans Day, Southern Connecticut State University’s Veterans’ Office and the Department of History invite members of the campus and greater New Haven community to participate in a special service event: the cleaning and preservation of Civil War veterans’ headstones at historic Westville Cemetery.

This year’s focus includes the rehabilitation of grave markers belonging to soldiers of the 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry Regiment and other Black Civil War veterans—a continuation of efforts by students in Professor Jason Smith’s Digital New Haven course, who worked to restore these legacies as part of their hands-on learning experience.

Set for Thursday, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the Westville Cemetery, at the corner of Osborn Avenue and Blake Street in New Haven, participants are encouraged to meet at the SCSU Veterans’ Office, Engleman Hall A014, at 2:45 p.m. for a short walk to the cemetery.