Notable Wilmington Anniversaries This Year-- Part 2

WILMINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Land for this stately cemetery at 20th and Market streets was acquired acquired in 1867.

The Wilmington National Cemetery, which is closed to future internments, was initially populated by remains recovered from the old Wilmington City Cemetery, Fort Fisher (including soldiers who died  there in the 1865 battle) and elsewhere.

Many are former Union soldiers who died  during the Civil War.

Among the approximately  6,000 people buried there are  557 U.S. Colored Troops (more than 500 of their identities are unknown), whose grave markers have the inscriptions "U.S.C.T." and "U.S. Col. Inf."

Also buried at the Wilmington National Cemetery  are 28 Puerto Ricans who died during the 1918  influenza pandemic.  They were bound to help with the construction of the Fort Bragg base near Fayetteville and were among the 300 Puerto Ricans who fell ill on the journey to North Carolina aboard the ship City of Savannah, which landed at the  port of Wilmington.  The headstones of those who died from the flu read "Employee USA."

--Old Secesh