<body><div>New Plaque Unveiled at Mount Moor CemeteryThe Friends of Mount Moor Cemetery, Buffalo Soldiers of Rockland County, and the Spring Valley and Nyack branches of the NAACP held a Veterans Day service on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Mount Moor Cemetery, 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, on the grounds of the Palisades Center.The service honored generations of African American military service and unveiled a plaque recognizing seven veterans whose leadership, advocacy, and dedication helped preserve the cemetery and sustain its mission. Bill Batson, president of the Friends of Mount Moor Cemetery, served as master of ceremonies.Featured speaker Jamila Shabazz Brathwaite, president of the African American Historical Society of Rockland County, examined the often-overlooked story of Pompey Lamb and his contributions to the American victory at the Battle of Stony Point in July 1779. Historical accounts credit Lamb with intelligence and assistance that helped American forces approach the British position. Her presentation brought attention to his place in Revolutionary history and the continuing work of recovering African American contributions to the nation’s founding.Brathwaite is an independent historian, researcher, curator, and memory worker whose scholarship explores African American life, civic engagement, and the pursuit of freedom in New York City and the Hudson Valley. She leads Black Lives in the Hudson Valley, the historical society’s America 250 initiative documenting African-descended people during the Revolutionary era.Special Recognition and ReflectionsThe program included reflections from Army Master Sergeant Jeffery T. Campbell and special recognition of Army veterans Rev. Lee Burns Sr. and Rev. Dr. Edgar W. Howard.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0SuMEx_1H1P3IKS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0SuMEx_1H1P3IKS00" width="1290" height="1387" ><figcaption>Master Sergeant Jeffery T. Campbell</figcaption></figure>Campbell has a distinguished 35-year career in the United States Army Reserve, with leadership experience in personnel management, military readiness, deployment support, and emergency operations. His service includes assignments in Kuwait and extensive work supporting service members and their families through the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. His decorations include seven Army Achievement Medals and three Army Commendation Medals.Burns enlisted in the Army in 1962 and subsequently served for more than three decades in the New York Army National Guard, attaining the rank of sergeant first class. His military work included communications, electronics, and the Nike Hercules missile program. He helped support Rockland County’s Buffalo Soldier commemorations by securing military vehicles for community parades. A longtime associate minister at Macedonia Baptist Church in Piermont, Burns has also devoted decades to prayer ministry, nursing home visitation, and community service.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3Ig62Q_1H1P3IKS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Ig62Q_1H1P3IKS00" width="651" height="871" ><figcaption>SFC Lee E. Burns, Sr. U.S. Army</figcaption></figure>Howard is an Army veteran whose service included the 82nd Airborne Division and airborne training at Fort Bragg and Fort Benning. His decades of religious and civic leadership include service as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Haverstraw and as president of the Rockland County Ministers’ Alliance.Dr. Lori Latrice Martin introduced her father, Rev. Burns. A Nyack native, Louisiana State University professor and associate dean, Martin is the author or editor of more than 35 books. Her book, The Ex-Slave’s Fortune, explores the life of Cynthia Hesdra, an important figure in Nyack’s African American history. Martin’s scholarship and public history work have helped restore Hesdra’s life and legacy to wider recognition.Plaque Honors Seven Veterans The memorial plaque recognizes veterans who led, sustained, and advanced the work of preserving Mount Moor Cemetery and honoring African American military service:Hezekiah Easter Jr., Corporal, U.S. Army — A World War II veteran and the first African American elected to public office in Rockland County, Easter led the successful effort to protect Mount Moor Cemetery during development of the Palisades Center. His leadership preserved the burial ground where members of his own family rest.David C. Smith, Captain, U.S. Army — A Vietnam veteran, businessman, and community advocate affectionately known as “The Captain” and “Commander,” Smith devoted years to caring for Mount Moor Cemetery and strengthening public awareness of its importance. He was a steadfast supporter of veterans’ organizations and the Buffalo Soldiers.Charles H. Butler Sr., Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force — Butler served in the Air National Guard and built a life of family and community service in Rockland County alongside his wife, Lois. The plaque honors his contribution to the collective work of remembrance and preservation.Sanders H. Matthews Sr., Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army — A Buffalo Soldier who served with the 10th Cavalry Regiment, Matthews became a respected horsemanship instructor associated with the United States Military Academy. His life connected the historic service of the Buffalo Soldiers with the education of later generations.Joseph Dunn, Corporal, U.S. Army — A community leader and preservationist, Dunn co-founded the Buffalo Soldiers Association of West Point and helped establish memorial traditions honoring African American military service.Kerney Oby, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps — A veteran, youth mentor, and basketball coach, Oby devoted himself to young people, families, and community organizations throughout Rockland County.Grady F. Anderson Jr., Specialist Five, U.S. Army — A veteran, historian, and former commander of Moscarella Post 199, Anderson dedicated years to Buffalo Soldier programming and Mount Moor Cemetery activities, helping carry the responsibility of remembrance from one generation to the next.Smith received additional recognition through remarks by Marine Corps veteran Ken Mercer and Dr. Beth Smith Keser, acknowledging his exceptional role in bringing Mount Moor Cemetery into the public consciousness of Rockland County.A Place of Service, Preservation, and Remembrance Established in 1849 as a burial ground for African American families excluded from white cemeteries, Mount Moor Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Veterans buried there served in conflicts including the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and the Korean War.The Veterans Day program included remarks from local elected officials, patriotic anthems, a wreath laying, a moment of silence, and taps. Together, the service and plaque unveiling will honor both those who served the country and those who ensured that their lives and resting places would be remembered.</div></body>

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The Friends of Mount Moor Cemetery, Buffalo Soldiers of Rockland County, and the Spring Valley and Nyack branches of the NAACP held a Veterans Day service on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Mount Moor Cemetery, 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, on the grounds of the Palisades Center.

Remembering and Honoring Black Service Members

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The Friends of Mount Moor Cemetery, Buffalo Soldiers of Rockland County, and the Spring Valley and Nyack branches of the NAACP held a Veterans Day service 

Remembering and Honoring Black Service Members

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