In a special Saturday meeting of the Senate capital projects subcommittee March 19, Senator Dyson showed his strong support for the restoration of the historic St. Nicholas Cemetery located on the grounds of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station.
Senator Dyson’s bill would be used as a grant to the Board of Directors of St. Mary’s County Genealogical Society for the repair and reconstruction of this historic burial site that had been literally buried under ground for 60 years.
Prominent people of the past going back as far as 1795, many of whom are from St. Mary’s County, are buried at this cemetery. Some of these veterans include Robert Jarboe who was with General Washington when his Continental Army crossed the Delaware River, Frank Brown, the father of the legendary actress Helen Hayes and Revolutionary War patriot William Holton.
Veterans of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War (who fought for either the North and the South) and World War I are buried here.
“This project has been undertaken with great diligence by Mr. Scott Lawrence who recognizes the importance of preserving the history and the memory of those buried on this sacred ground,” Senator Dyson said. “He has the support of the Navy and the St. Mary’s County Genealogical Society who also understand the importance of the project. The least I could do was introduce a modest bond bill (Senate Bill 313) that hopefully will help complete the next phase in what is going to be a costly, but extraordinarily worthwhile project.”
If you are interested in contributing to this project, send your contribution to the St. Mary’s Genealogical Society, a 501(3c) tax-exempt organization, at P.O. Box 1109, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or Mr. Lawrence at (301) 863-5907.
In a special Saturday meeting of the Senate capital projects subcommittee March 19, Senator Dyson showed his strong support for the restoration of the historic St. Nicholas Cemetery located on the grounds of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station.