Across generations, African American veterans have served this nation with courage, yet too often their stories have faded with time. At St. Matthew’s Cemetery in New Iberia, the resting places of these men and women stand as sacred markers of both history and resilience. The Adopt-a-Grave: In Their Honor campaign invites our community to help preserve these sites and the memories they hold.

Hosted by the Iberia African American Historical Society (IAAHS) and Shadows-on-the-Teche, in partnership with the Robert B. Green AL Post 533 & All American VFW Post 12065, this Veterans Day event brings people together to honor, restore, and remember. The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, New Iberia Chapter, proudly serves as an event sponsor, supporting efforts to research and preserve the stories of African American veterans interred at St. Matthew’s Cemetery.

A portion of each $15 adoption supports a full year of care for a veteran’s gravesite, including grass cutting, landscaping, and basic preservation. Participants will place a commemorative flag at the grave they adopt and receive a personalized veteran profile that tells the story behind the name, including the branch of service, years served, military conflict, and a photograph when available.

This act of remembrance goes beyond a single day. It is about restoring dignity to the final resting places of African American veterans whose sacrifices built and defended our freedoms. Through this collective effort, we ensure that their service will not be forgotten and that their memory will live on through continued community stewardship.

By adopting a grave, you are not only honoring a veteran but also helping preserve the shared heritage of New Iberia for generations to come.

In Their Honor: Preserving the Legacy of Black Veterans in Iberia Parish

Commemorating the Lives, Service, and Sacrifice of Iberia Parish’s Black Veterans