I'm Julie Salmon outside Macdill Air Force Base,
where officials have confirmed more than 120 possible graves have
been located on property in an open field.
On Macdill Air Force Base in Tampa,
officials have located more than 120 graves belonging mainly to
African Americans.
The law cemetery known as Port Tampa Cemetery is located
near Tanker Way Gate,
not far from the bases entrance off of Dale Mabry
Hwy.
So we know obviously there was wrong done in the
past,
but we're working together with our community members.
We want to make what was wrong right in 2019.
Jail officials say the Tampa Bay History Center notified them
of a possible cemetery.
An archaeological survey led to the initial discovery of 11
possible graves in a wooded area on base in 2021.
Macdill officials held a service and created a memorial in
memory of the people buried there.
The search for more graves continued over the past two
years,
officials discovering nearly 120 additional graves.
Macdill officials say they'll continue to search for the entire
cemetery.
We also then contracted out in order to actually search.
So we had ground penetrating radar out here searching the
area.
We had cadaver dogs, so it was a very thorough
search that we were doing.
Yvette Lewis, president of the N Double ACP Hillsborough County
Branch,
says the final resting place located on base should be
recognized and memorialized.
No one is saying the current administration or the current
people living.
Had a hand in it,
but they do have a hand in correcting the wrong.
They do have a hand in having a conversation and
talking about it and telling the story and making sure
that the story is told correct and properly.
Macdill officials say research and surveys will continue throughout the
year in the area,
with results expected in 2025.