The History of the Cemetery
It all started with two Veterans and a Fallen Hero.
Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Day Street in Titusville, Florida was founded by 1st Sergeant Arthur Rice and Colonel John Howard when they discovered a veteran buried in the cemetery next to the current veteran’s cemetery. Soon, they convinced Brevard County to donate the land for a veteran’s cemetery. The first veteran buried at the cemetery was Walther Smith, a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1917 to 1939. He was buried on November 10, 1978, the day before the cemetery was dedicated.
From Four Men and Idea To…
While the cemetery has been here since 1978, it was largely neglected and ignored until a group of veterans visited it and came to the conclusion:
“Something had to be done!”
Friends of the cemetery has grown to more than 250 volunteers, and partnerships with more then a dozen organizations to help beautify, maintain, and most importantly honor our veterans in their final resting place.
Sam DiBlasio
Founder
United States Navy & leader of Alpha Friends Bible group at Indian River City Methodist Church.
Dylan
Eagle Scout
Troop 488
Titusville, FL
Riley
Eagle Scout
Troop 488
Titusville, FL