Within the last few months the Santa Rosa Press Gazette published articles regarding the condition of the Milton Cemetery. Time after time the board of directors of the non-profit organization asked for the general public to lend a hand in sprucing up the sacred parcel of land on Berryhill Road. While the board professed to have received limited help, it certainly needs more.
Bill Bledsoe, general manager of the Milton Benevolent Cemetery Board, the lone voice of need, repeatedly stressed the board does not have funding to pay for help with weeding and grass cutting. Bledsoe can’t understand why no other party will commit to volunteer while in the past youth organizations scheduled clean ups just for volunteer hours.
He makes the point, and rightfully so, it’s the true historical landmark within the city. It is the sacred burial ground of Santa Rosa County families who are no longer; babies who never walked the streets of town and those who loved our fair city enough to fight for the right to live here.
And still, no help. Last March the community was saddened and heartbroken when we wrote about a grave desecration in the cemetery. It was the resting place of a 5 year old child who died in 1902. His name was L. G. Monroe. The slab was broken and there were signs of digging. Is it right to surmise this behavior may continue if no one is willing to step up and put their hands toward something of value?
The Milton Cemetery is a sacred place where some of the original community leaders are buried. To name a few there are 43 Confederate soldiers buried in the graveyard, and the first Florida Supreme Court Justice George Gray McWhorter. The earliest grave dates back to 1817.
While it’s true most everyone leads a busy life, we don’t understand why the situation of a valid historic site isn’t considered important enough to have the weeds trimmed on a regular basis. Mentioning the widening of U. S. Highway 90 and perhaps moving buildings for progress stirs the fires in the hearts of some and many voices are heard. The citizenry can argue for hours, point after point of why it’s important for certain ‘historic’ buildings to remain in downtown for ‘historic purposes’ but our beloved ancestors and past community leaders aren’t worthy enough to have the grass mowed around their headstones. Let’s have some pride in our forefather’s resting place, Santa Rosa County.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton Cemetery, our true historical site