Daniel Vitagliano, a lifelong resident of Port Chester, and member of Port Chester Boy Scout Troop 6, received his Eagle Scout awards and numerous comendations at a Court of Honor held on Sunday, January 13th, 2013 at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Port Chester. The event was attended by friends, family, elected officials and persons interested in the Rye Town African American Cemetery. Elected Officials presenting proclamations included State Senator George Latimer, Assemblyman Steve Otis, County Legislator David Gelfarb, Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla and Rye Town Supervisor Joseph Carvin. Other proclamations were received from the President Barack Obama, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Congresswoman Nita Lowey and County Executive Rob Astorino.
Daniel's Eagle Scout Project consisted of documentary research and field work, to determine who was interred into the Rye Town African American Cemetery, a one acre cemetery on the grouns of Greenwood Union Cemetery on North Street, in Rye City (formerly part of Rye Town) which was donated to the Town of Rye in 1861.
The results of Daniel's and other Scout's efforts is an interactive cemetery map hosted on the Town of Rye home page at www.townofryeny.com . At least 19 African American Veterans of the Civil War are interred at the cemetery, as well as numerous other veterans of later wars. Daniel's project has sparked national interest in the cemetery. The Town of Rye has received additional information from citizens across the Country.
