Driftwood Cemetery Association Unveils New Memorial To Honor Veterans

Staff Reports

On April 27, the Driftwood Cemetery Association, a non-profit organization, held a ceremony to honor its interred veterans and unveil a new memorial.

Over 100 people attended the event, which included guest speakers and an appearance of the Dripping Springs VFW Four-Man Color Guard.    

The Color-Guard rendered military honors. And history buffs enjoyed comments from Chairman of the Hays County Historic Commission, Kate Johnson, Hays County Commission Precinct 4, Walt Smith, Cemetery Historian Marie Bassett and Association President Stan Jones.

Last year, Association chairman and Driftwood resident Bob Templeton noticed there was no memorial recognizing veterans.

“We let these individuals go off to war and we need to offer some tribute of thanks,” he said.

The group soon commissioned a stone monument with engravings to include all branches of service represented there, and all names of service personnel, with space for additional inscriptions.

The cemetery came into existence in 1884, and meetings are great for picking up local lore, some of which Marie Bassett will share at the unveiling.

“Within the peaceful oak-shaded bounds of Driftwood Cemetery lie, citizens of the Republic of Texas, veterans of the Civil War, as well as of America’s major foreign conflicts, and the good people of Driftwood, regardless of denomination,” Bassett said. 

Templeton said the cemetery offers a link to the past and allows residents and family to make a connection to it.