Twenty-one thousand souls rest here. In Cypress Hills National Cemetery. A silent testament to service and sacrifice.
Cypress Hills National Cemetery. The only national cemetery in New York City. It holds a piece of American history. It started small. Just three acres. Set aside in 1862. A haven for Civil War casualties. Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners of war lie side by side. A poignant reminder of a nation divided.
But Cypress Hills grew. In 1884 fifteen more acres were added. Then in 1941 a small plot. The Mount of Victory. The smallest federally owned land in the country. It holds veterans from the War of 1812. Today Cypress Hills National Cemetery stretches across eighteen acres. A sprawling expanse of history.
Within these grounds rest twenty-four Medal of Honor recipients. The nation’s highest military honor. Sergeant Wilbur Colyer is one of them. A young Brooklynite. He volunteered for a dangerous mission. He took on enemy machine gun nests single-handedly. He sacrificed his life for his country.
Another remarkable figure here is Sergeant Major Daniel Daly. A Marine Corps legend. He received the Medal of Honor twice. Once for his bravery during the Boxer Rebellion. Again for his courage in Haiti. Daly’s battle cry echoes through time. “Come on you sons of bitches do you want to live forever?” A testament to Marine spirit.
And there’s John Martin. A trumpeter. He carried General Custer’s last message. From the Battle of Little Bighorn. His Italian accent proved crucial. Custer’s assistant had to write the message down. That note is now at West Point. Martin’s life was spared. He is buried here.
Cypress Hills National Cemetery isn’t just a cemetery. It’s a living memorial. It speaks volumes about courage sacrifice and the enduring spirit of America’s veterans. Take a moment to reflect on the stories etched into these stones. Stories that shaped our nation. Stories that continue to inspire. Cypress Hills National Cemetery. A place of quiet contemplation and profound respect.