Special Event at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Abilene
In July of 1941, Camp Barkeley sprang from the west Texas dirt southwest of Abilene with the urgency of a nation at war. Boasting a population of nearly 60,000, Camp Barkeley more than doubled Abilene’s population and was the biggest thing to happen to West Texas since the Chisholm Trail.
By September of 1945, Camp Barkeley was gone — its former military community scattered across the nation at peace.
The memory of Camp Barkeley, however, still stands proud. In early April a devoted band of volunteers planted a refurbished Camp Barkeley flagpole in the hallowed grounds of the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene.
The Military Partnership of West Central Texas took on the project of restoring the renowned flagpole, and held a re-dedication ceremony for it on April 30. The 12th Armored Memorial Museum and Living History Group brought a nostalgic feel to the event and Abilene’s Veteran community made a strong showing, young and old.
In its time, the Camp Barkeley flagpole, and its 48-star American flag, saw the salutes of men training under the command of Maj. Gen. William S. Key’s Forty-fifth Infantry Division, the Ninetieth Infantry Division and the Eleventh and Twelfth Armored divisions. Famous World War II cartoonist William Mauldin was on staff at the base paper. And more than 12,500 candidates were graduated from The Medical Administrative Officer Candidate School.
The 48-star flag flew above Nazi prisoners of war in the 1846th Unit POW Camp, under the command of Lt. Col. Harry Slaughter. More than 800 Nazi POW’s were held at the camp, which saw the escape and recapture of a dozen men.
The Camp Barkeley Garrison Flag Pole will now stand tall over its forever home, the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene. The 63-acre State Veterans Cemetery is located four miles north of Interstate 20, just east of FM 600. It includes a covered, open-air structure for committal services; a visitors center; a computer system for locating specific graves or interments; an assembly area for special occasions, such as Memorial Day observances; an avenue of flags; and a memorial walkway.
For additional information on Texas State Veterans Cemeteries and other Veterans Benefits Programs offered by the Texas Veterans Land Board, call 1–800–252-VETS (8387), or visit www.TexasVeterans.com.
