Post 14 Helped Supervise Fall Cleanup at Whites Chapel Cemetery
On Friday, November 21, a group of great people gathered for fall cleanup at Whites Chapel Cemetery in Southlake. The Whites Chapel Cemetery Fall Cleanup 2025 was organized by the Whites Chapel Cemetery Association and co-supervised by our very own American Legion PFC Ruth E. Warlick Post #14, where veterans, students, and community leaders recently rallied to help sustain one of the area’s oldest and most beloved buildings.
What followed was not just a cleanup day. It was a powerful lesson in service, respect, and teamwork through generations.
A Community United in Service
Southlake Legionnaires from Post 14 and a host of dedicated volunteers, including the members of the Whites Chapel Cemetery Association Board, and thirty eager 8th graders at Dawson Middle School. They all tackled cleaning the cemetery grounds, which had become overgrown during the seasonal months.
For many, it was the only time they had worked alongside veterans — and for the veterans, it was an opportunity to mentor young people and impress on them the significance of civic responsibility. The weather was cool by fall standards, but the atmosphere on site was warm—a sense of purpose, a feeling of collaboration.
Activities and Accomplishments
Clearing, cleaning, and freshening up cemeteries was a full morning and afternoon of volunteer work:
- Cleared well over 100 yards of fence line with this, taking out some pretty heavy underbrush, fallen branches, etc.
- Loaded a dump truck full of debris and vegetation.
- Cleaned and respected the grounds, preparing the old cemetery for tourists over the upcoming holiday season.
The transformation was noticeable. Forgotten areas that had been choked with overgrowth were opened up, and the grounds again took on the look of calm dignity that a cemetery deserves.
Why This Cleanup Matters
The Whites Chapel Cemetery is rich in Southlake’s history. Keeping it is not simply a question of landscaping — it’s about respecting the generations that preceded us.
This combined service is an illustration of the strength that comes with volunteer work, particularly when two generations work together. Veterans recounted stories, students considered service and stewardship, and all left with a deeper appreciation of community.
The project also underlined an important refrain from Post 14: service doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off—it is a lifelong commitment to all that makes the community better.
Ready for the Holiday Season
With the hard work, sweat, and passionate commitment of all these volunteers, Whites Chapel Cemetery is ready to greet its visitors for the holidays. Families that come to visit their beloved ones will find a well-cared-for, quiet final resting place—a testament to the respect of the past this community shares.
TX Legion PFC Ruth E. Warlick is grateful for all the volunteers who showed up to help! Together, they had an impact that will last and proved what can be done when a neighborhood pools its talents to make something happen.
