CRISFIELD, Md. - A historic step in preserving African American heritage took place at the Asbury Cemetery, as community members gathered to honor the past and bring recognition to a long-overlooked site.
On April 2, the Somerset County NAACP chapter unveiled a new sign that would indicate the location and significance of the burial ground that holds generations of local history.
Leaders say the effort is meant to honor the lives and legacies of those buried there while ensuring the site is properly recognized moving forward.
Reverend Charles Bagley, Somerset County NAACP President, said the lack of visibility had become a concern.
"When we came down on our Black History bus tour, of course we came to this cemetery at this location, but there was no indication of where it was," Bagley said.
Community member Joseph Paden had spent the last several years cutting down trees and other overgrown vegetation to make the cemetery more accessible to its visitors.
To show gratitude for his hard work in restoring the Asbury Colored Cemetery, the NAACP also dedicated the new street sign in his name.
They hope this project will bring more awareness to historically overlooked African American sites across Somerset County and inspire continued efforts to preserve and protect them for future generations.