“You are walking on Sacred Ground.” Those are the first words on the sign at the entrance to the cemetery at Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge. The words “Sacred Ground” are capitalized, signifying their importance.
The chapel and its cemetery are part of an active parish which was built in the early 1900s to commemorate those who served during the American Revolutionary War. Although not part of the Valley Forge federal park system, the chapel overlooks and is surrounded by Valley Forge parkland – the place where 12,000 Continental Army troops endured the winter of 1777 under the direction of Gen. George Washington. Located less than 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, the then-capital of the United States which had been captured by the British, the troops trained, drilled and endured the winter in Valley Forge until finally marching out in June of 1778, and eventually winning the war and independence for our country.
Yesterday was Memorial Day, a national public holiday to honor those who have died in the nation’s wars. The holiday has been held on the last Monday in May since 1971, but locally the holiday has even greater significance as Boalsburg considers itself, “An American Village – birthplace of Memorial Day.” Although there are several towns around the country that lay claim to being the start of Memorial Day, Boalsburg’s timeline is the earliest of them all.
Regardless of who was first to celebrate our dead soldiers, everyone agrees that in 1868, General John A. Logan, the commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, ordered a national holiday on May 30 “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion.” And it is that practice which we keep to this day.
It was with these thoughts in the back of our minds that my wife and I used the beautiful weather this past weekend to take her parents out to visit the graves of her paternal lineage, a lineage that is deeply tied to these central Pennsylvania mountains and valleys. Some of them were veterans and others who were not. But the etymology of the word memorial is from the Latin memorialis or memoria, meaning memory, and what better time of year to kindle the memories of lost loved ones than a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend?
My wife Jackie’ s maiden name is Naginey. If you are a Happy Valley native or have lived here for a while and done any exploring you’ve found plenty of the small towns and villages that dot the countryside all around State College. Places such as Baileyville, Gatesburg, Julian, Zion and Barrville. And Naginey. That’s right, my wife’s family has a town named after them.
Naginey is on the south side of Seven Mountains from State College, just a mile or two southeast of Milroy. For those who remember when Route 322 was not yet a four-lane highway after you got to the bottom of Seven Mountains below the Laurel Creek Reservoir, and you were put on the old two-lane road through Milroy until just before Reedsville, then you probably saw a PennDOT directional sign pointing to Naginey.
According to family and local history, Charles Naginey emigrated to America in 1795 and settled in Kishacoquillas Valley in 1802. In 1835 he purchased what would, for the next 154 years, be the Naginey family farm. The area around the farm became the unincorporated town of Naginey. The primary industry in the area has always been the quarry, which was owned by numerous companies through the years, and is currently operated by Glenn O. Hawbaker. Jackie’s parents sold the farm in 1989, but the graves of many of the Naginey clan are still in the valley. And that was our quest.
We left State College and the first order of business was getting flowers for the graves. And what better place to do that than Peachey’s Greenhouse in Belleville. We drove into Pine Grove Mills, over Tussey Mountain on SR 26, and on into McAlevys Fort where we made the turn toward Greenwood Furnace State Park. The state park was crowded with daytrippers and campers enjoying the sunshine. Then over Stone Mountain and down into the valley and Peachey’s Greenhouse.
While at Peachey’s Jackie had to get a supply of marigolds and clematis for her own garden, and I couldn’t resist a jar of pickles. Jackie’s mom picked out a nice pot of varietals for the grave and Jackie’s dad picked up several jars of canned goods and jellies. We then continued into Belleville – and drove past the current Community Hall building where Jackie’s dad played basketball 70 years ago – and on toward Reedsville and then the Church Hill Cemetery at the corner of Church Lane and Old U.S. Highway 322.
The Church Hill Cemetery was established by the East Kishacoquillas Presbyterian Church and has been in continuous use since the early 1800s. There are over 30 “Naginey” graves there as well as numerous other relatives – the earliest ones being buried in 1822, two centuries ago.
When we entered the cemetery we were reminded of the sign at the entrance to the cemetery at Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge: You are walking on Sacred Ground. As we walked among the headstones heading to the grave of Jackie’s grandparents and other ancestors, you could feel the presence and sacredness of all those who had come before us – the veterans and non-veterans alike – and it made us appreciate the history and legacy of who we are. It was with that appreciation that we gave both our children two middle names when they were born – one of which is Naginey.
After laying the flowers and offering our respects we headed back to State College – with a little detour through the town of Naginey.
During this week of the Memorial Day holiday, we hope you had, or will have sometime soon, the opportunity to tread on Sacred Ground that has meaning to you and celebrate and memorialize those who came before you.
