GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
March 16, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Molly Dannenmaier
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
409-765-7834
Molly.Dannenmaier@galvestonhistory.org

Public Invited to Join Eagle Scout in Reconstruction of Fence Destroyed by Hurricane Ike at Historic African American Cemetery this Saturday

Galveston, TX – A Galveston Eagle Scout this week will rebuild a 300-foot fence that was destroyed by Hurricane Ike just nine months after he and dozens of volunteers built the fence at Galveston’s historic African-American cemetery.

Sean Moran raised thousands of dollars and organized dozens of volunteers to build the split-rail fence at Galveston’s historic Rosewood Cemetery on Jan. 12, 2008. Moran said he broke into tears when he visited the site the day after Ike devastated Galveston in September 2008.

“It was hard to believe it was gone,” Moran said. “So many people put so much time and effort into it and it meant a lot to me. I was really, really proud of doing a major Eagle project at a historic site like that.”

Moran said he vowed that day to rebuild the fence at the long-neglected and abused resting place of 444 African Americans. The cemetery was founded in 1911 by an association of African-American Galvestonians but fell into disuse in the 1950s. It had been vandalized and was shrouded in weeds and brush until it was donated to the Galveston Historical Foundation in 2006.

“We are very happy that Sean decided the fence should be rebuilt,” said Dwayne Jones, Galveston Historical Foundation executive director. “He’s under no obligation to redo his Eagle project and we think his decision to do it is a great example of the values that Scouting instills in young men.”

Work on the fence reconstruction is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., Saturday, March 20. Rosewood Cemetery is located on 63rd Street, just off of Seawall Boulevard in Galveston.

The cemetery is surrounded by hotels and restaurants and is located behind the Golden Corral Restaurant, 6200 Seawall Boulevard, and Comfort Inn and Suites, 6302 Seawall Boulevard.

Volunteers should wear work clothes and shoes or boots as well as hats, work gloves and sunscreen. A pizza lunch and plenty of water will be provided.

Moran officially attained the coveted Eagle Scout rank in August 2008, after undergoing a Board of Review by Bay Area Council officials. The storm destroyed the Rosewood Cemetery fence—and Moran’s nearby home--on Sept. 13, 2008. His Eagle Scout Court of Honor, the formal presentation of his Eagle Badge, was held at historic St. Joseph’s Church on Dec. 15, 2008. It was the first such ceremony on Galveston Island after Hurricane Ike.

GHF officials are helping coordinate the fence reconstruction but Moran is raising the money to pay for the materials and organizing volunteers.

Moran, now 19, is a freshman at the University of Texas-Austin and remains involved in Scouting as a member of Venture Crew 33. The crew is associated with Boy Scout Troop 124, of which Moran was a member when he attained Eagle rank. The troop lost all its equipment and a trailer when its sponsor, St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, also was destroyed by Ike.

The Venture Crew and Troop 124 now are sponsored by Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church in Galveston.

Donations can be sent to: Galveston Historical

FoundationAttn: Brian Davis
502 20th Street
Galveston, TX 77550