Friends of the Cemetery
Honoring Our Veterans
Veteran Memorial Cemetery Story
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.
Who Are the Friends of the Cemetery?
From Four Men an 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.
United States Navy and Leader of a small bible group called Alpha Friends at Indian River City United Methodist Church.
United States Air Force, and LtCol. Civil Air Patrol Commander of the Tico Composite Squadron.
Member of Alpha Friends who were already placing American flags at all the grave stones each Memorial Day & Veterans Day.
United Sates Army, Commander of VFW post #4228
FOTC Projects
Please Support FOTC by Donating.
Friends of the Cemetery is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.
Your donations are tax deductible.