Talk:Corozal American Cemetery and Memorial

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HISTORY OF COROZAL AMERICAN CEMETERY

The Corozal American Cemetery is one of 24 American military cemeteries located in foreign countries designed, constructed, operated and maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). The cemetery is located at Calle Rufina Alfaro, Edif. # 6566, Corozal, Panama.

The Isthmian Canal Commission originally established Corozal as a farm that provided work for disabled laborers who lived with their families on the farm. In 1914, the Isthmian Canal Commission designated approximately two acres of land for use as a permanent cemetery for U.S. remains relocated from Ancon cemetery, which was deactivated and abolished due to Canal administrative and operational needs. On Feb. 5, 1914 responsibility for the cemetery was assigned to the superintendent of the Ancon Hospital. Daily operational control of the cemetery remained with the Corozal farm supervisor, and the farm’s disabled labor force performed maintenance tasks. The first burial of an American at Corozal was conducted on Feb. 13, 1914. The original cemetery was segregated to separate different races and Canal employees from non-employees. The cemetery continued to expand in size, eventually reaching 63 acres.

Until 1979, the Isthmian Canal Commission, which became the Panama Canal Company, administered the cemetery under its Grounds Maintenance Division. On Jan. 19, 1979, President Carter signed Executive Order 12115 as part of the Panama Canal Treaty. This included the designation of a permanent American cemetery of approximately 17 acres in size. Section 1-101 of this order designated the ABMC as the administrator of the cemetery. In October 1979, the Panama Canal Treaty became effective and the Panama Canal Company transferred Corozal Cemetery to the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army Mortuary assumed administrative control and the Directorate of Facilities Engineering became responsible for maintenance. On June 5, 1982, the U.S. Army signed over the cemetery to the ABMC. There have been four ABMC superintendents of the Corozal American Cemetery; all have been veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

More than 5,300 individuals of 71 different nationalities are interred at Corozal. The cemetery is unique within ABMC in that it is ABMC’s only active cemetery and, in addition to honoring members of the U.S. armed forces, it commemorates the deeds and sacrifices of U.S. civilians who contributed to the security and operations of the Panama Canal. Interments at the cemetery include veterans from the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Lebanon, Desert Storm and the Global War of Terrorism.

The cemetery is open to the public for visits from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Christmas and New Years Day. The office and visitor’s center are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The grounds are also made available to patriotic or civic organizations for programs honoring the U.S. War Dead interred at the cemetery.

Corozal Silver Cemetery

FYI, and as the seed for a new Wikipedia article, here is some info on the Corozal "Silver" Cemetery. I note that it is a separate memorial from the American Cemetery & Memorial.

• http://thesilverpeopleheritage.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/the-history-of-the-corozal-and-mount-hope-cemeteries/
• http://thesilverpeoplechronicle.blogspot.com/2008/02/silver-townships-rainbow-city-part-i.html
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2281706&CScn=corozal&
• http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12115.html

Happy editing! --S. Rich (talk) 17:04, 11 March 2011 (UTC)17:27, 11 March 2011 (UTC)

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