Leon L. Brown aka Uncle Bozi, was a Private in the United States Army -319-SERV.BV OMC. In 1935, a circus troupe performing in Pensacola, Florida accidentally discovered a forgotten cemetery. The circus was set-up on what they thought was an old vacant field. When one of the elephants tripped on a headstone, they discovered the old cemetery.
Thomas Jensen, from the Non-Commission Officers Association, located near the cemetery, had found the cemetery a few days earlier. He was walking through the field behind the Non-Commissioner Officers Association Building looking for property that may have taken during a break-in a few days before, when he also stumbled over a headstone.
Mr. Jensen started to research the cemetery history and found that the Good Hope African Methodist Episcopal Parish and Cemetery used to sit on the present site of the NOA building. He also learned that two veterans were buried in the all Black Cemetery that has been lost and found many times over the years. This was an archeological find, a testimony of the area's rich military heritage.
Good Hope A.M.E. cemetery began deteriorating when the young People in the area began moving away and the old folks got too old to keep the cemetery up regularly after Good Hope A.M.E. Church moved to Gulf Beach Highway.
The two veterans buried in the forgotten cemetery are, Abraham Clayborn of Company "G" 82nd United States Colored Infantry who was a veteran of the Civil War, and Private Leon L. Brown, who was a veteran of World War I.
To honor the two veterans members of the NCOA, the Naval Air Station, and Corry Field officers, refurbished and cleaned up the Good Hope A.M.E. Parish Cemetery.
The following day a full military dedication was provided with Navy Color Guards, a 21-Gun Salute, and wreaths that were placed on the graves of the black veterans.
The Navy Color Guard presented the United States Flag that once flew over the United States Capitol to Rev. J.B. Stallworth of the Good Hope A.M.E. Parish Church.
This historical find was bought to the attention of the Veterans Administration who initiated efforts to identity other graves of veterans in the old cemetery, so that they can finally receive the respect that is long over due.
Thomas Jensen, from the Non-Commission Officers Association, located near the cemetery, had found the cemetery a few days earlier. He was walking through the field behind the Non-Commissioner Officers Association Building looking for property that may have taken during a break-in a few days before, when he also stumbled over a headstone.
Mr. Jensen started to research the cemetery history and found that the Good Hope African Methodist Episcopal Parish and Cemetery used to sit on the present site of the NOA building. He also learned that two veterans were buried in the all Black Cemetery that has been lost and found many times over the years. This was an archeological find, a testimony of the area's rich military heritage.
Good Hope A.M.E. cemetery began deteriorating when the young People in the area began moving away and the old folks got too old to keep the cemetery up regularly after Good Hope A.M.E. Church moved to Gulf Beach Highway.
The two veterans buried in the forgotten cemetery are, Abraham Clayborn of Company "G" 82nd United States Colored Infantry who was a veteran of the Civil War, and Private Leon L. Brown, who was a veteran of World War I.
To honor the two veterans members of the NCOA, the Naval Air Station, and Corry Field officers, refurbished and cleaned up the Good Hope A.M.E. Parish Cemetery.
The following day a full military dedication was provided with Navy Color Guards, a 21-Gun Salute, and wreaths that were placed on the graves of the black veterans.
The Navy Color Guard presented the United States Flag that once flew over the United States Capitol to Rev. J.B. Stallworth of the Good Hope A.M.E. Parish Church.
This historical find was bought to the attention of the Veterans Administration who initiated efforts to identity other graves of veterans in the old cemetery, so that they can finally receive the respect that is long over due.
Leon L. Brown aka Uncle Bozi, was a Private in the United States Army -319-SERV.BV OMC. In 1935, a circus troupe performing in Pensacola, Florida accidentally discovered a forgotten cemetery. The circus was set-up on what they thought was an old vacant field. When one of the elephants tripped on a headstone, they discovered the old cemetery.
Thomas Jensen, from the Non-Commission Officers Association, located near the cemetery, had found the cemetery a few days earlier. He was walking through the field behind the Non-Commissioner Officers Association Building looking for property that may have taken during a break-in a few days before, when he also stumbled over a headstone.
Mr. Jensen started to research the cemetery history and found that the Good Hope African Methodist Episcopal Parish and Cemetery used to sit on the present site of the NOA building. He also learned that two veterans were buried in the all Black Cemetery that has been lost and found many times over the years. This was an archeological find, a testimony of the area's rich military heritage.
Good Hope A.M.E. cemetery began deteriorating when the young People in the area began moving away and the old folks got too old to keep the cemetery up regularly after Good Hope A.M.E. Church moved to Gulf Beach Highway.
The two veterans buried in the forgotten cemetery are, Abraham Clayborn of Company "G" 82nd United States Colored Infantry who was a veteran of the Civil War, and Private Leon L. Brown, who was a veteran of World War I.
To honor the two veterans members of the NCOA, the Naval Air Station, and Corry Field officers, refurbished and cleaned up the Good Hope A.M.E. Parish Cemetery.
The following day a full military dedication was provided with Navy Color Guards, a 21-Gun Salute, and wreaths that were placed on the graves of the black veterans.
The Navy Color Guard presented the United States Flag that once flew over the United States Capitol to Rev. J.B. Stallworth of the Good Hope A.M.E. Parish Church.
This historical find was bought to the attention of the Veterans Administration who initiated efforts to identity other graves of veterans in the old cemetery, so that they can finally receive the respect that is long over due.
Thomas Jensen, from the Non-Commission Officers Association, located near the cemetery, had found the cemetery a few days earlier. He was walking through the field behind the Non-Commissioner Officers Association Building looking for property that may have taken during a break-in a few days before, when he also stumbled over a headstone.
Mr. Jensen started to research the cemetery history and found that the Good Hope African Methodist Episcopal Parish and Cemetery used to sit on the present site of the NOA building. He also learned that two veterans were buried in the all Black Cemetery that has been lost and found many times over the years. This was an archeological find, a testimony of the area's rich military heritage.
Good Hope A.M.E. cemetery began deteriorating when the young People in the area began moving away and the old folks got too old to keep the cemetery up regularly after Good Hope A.M.E. Church moved to Gulf Beach Highway.
The two veterans buried in the forgotten cemetery are, Abraham Clayborn of Company "G" 82nd United States Colored Infantry who was a veteran of the Civil War, and Private Leon L. Brown, who was a veteran of World War I.
To honor the two veterans members of the NCOA, the Naval Air Station, and Corry Field officers, refurbished and cleaned up the Good Hope A.M.E. Parish Cemetery.
The following day a full military dedication was provided with Navy Color Guards, a 21-Gun Salute, and wreaths that were placed on the graves of the black veterans.
The Navy Color Guard presented the United States Flag that once flew over the United States Capitol to Rev. J.B. Stallworth of the Good Hope A.M.E. Parish Church.
This historical find was bought to the attention of the Veterans Administration who initiated efforts to identity other graves of veterans in the old cemetery, so that they can finally receive the respect that is long over due.
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