ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- The depot is scheduled to begin restoration work at the Military Cemetery and POW Cemetery, located on the former Fort McClellan property, this month.
The work should conclude in late spring or early summer.
This effort will raise, remove and realign, through a concrete beam system, existing headstones; perform initial setting of new headstones; and clean headstones. The scope of work also calls for turf renovation, to include grading and additional earthwork, placement of new sod, tree and shrub removal, drainage and irrigation system installations, painting and concrete work.
The work is being done by a contractor, CCI Energy and Construction Services, with oversight by the depot's Directorate of Public Works.
This project should finalize restoration of the Military Cemetery, where work began in 2016, encompassing 36 graves in the northwest corner of the cemetery.
Throughout 2017, the remaining 319 headstones at the cemetery were raised and realigned.
Citizens may see heavy equipment in use and possibly loud noise associated with the restoration process.
The Military Cemetery encompasses 355 headstones and the POW Cemetery has 29. The depot is responsible for the ground maintenance services, to include mowing, trimming, fence repair, sunken grave repair and headstone alignment.
Projected cost for the project is approximately $339,000.
Established in 1917, the Post Cemetery closed in 1975. Several observances are held there each year, to include Veterans Day ceremonies and Wreaths Across America.
The POW Cemetery was established during WWII. Between 1943 and 1946, Fort McClellan was one of numerous military bases throughout the Southern U.S. which housed prisoners of war. The cemetery was established to honor those who died in captivity.
Both cemeteries came under the care of ANAD when Fort McClellan closed in 1999.
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