Alexandria National Cemetery Improvements

Alexandria National Cemetery Improvements

A photo of the flagpole erected by the Civilian Works Administration in the 1930's as part of the New Deal improvements.

Kelley Stewart

https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/alexandria-national-cemetery-improvements-alexandria-va/

1930's

Creative Commons

Photograph

October 15th, 2019

Photographs of the flagpole and an informational board with the history of the cemetery.

I chose the flagpole at Alexandria National Cemetery. In the 1930’s the Civilian Works Administration updated outbuildings, and a lodge. (There is no exact date given.) They also erected a new flag pole, which I was able to photograph. Alexandria National Cemetery is a Civil War cemetery, and had been around for well over 70 years by the time the CWA updated the grounds. Not only does it carry important historical significance in the context of the Civil War, but the idea that the flagpole that stands just beyond the gate was erected by the CWA, as part of the New Deal, is incredibly cool. I photographed the site. I photographed the flagpole, as well as an informational plaque about the cemetery itself. Photography is just as important now as it was during the 30’s. It was the truest form of documentation, because it was visual proof aside from what had been written on a page.