Our Nation's Capital's Historic German-American Cemetery
Established 1858
2022 Memorial Day Service had to be cancelled due to the COVID illnesses.
Sunday March 13, 2022
ALONG NORTH CAPITOL STREET FENCE
On Sunday, March 13, 18 members of DC Scout Troop 61 arrived at Prospect Hill to remove overgrown brush and saplings which were choking off the area north of the house along the fence at North Capitol Street. They were accompanied by 12 Scoutmasters and parents.
This project got its fruition during a conversation at the 2021 Cleanup Day when lot owner Peter Schmeissner asked Superintendent Joe Connell if there was a project at Prospect Hill the Boy Scouts could do. Superintendent Connell suggested clearing the North Capitol Street slope of brush and sucker trees.
The project was planned by Eagle Scout Anton Schmeissner and was scheduled for implementation on Saturday, March 12, 2022. It was postponed to the following day due to bad weather.The scouts arrived promptly at 9:30 am and got right to work. The area is 550 feet long by 15 feet wide, encompassing over 8,000 sq. ft. The scouts, leaders and parents worked tirelessly until 6:00 pm. By the end of the day, the area was clear of brush and saplings. Saplings were cut off clear to the ground and treated with a stump remover. Also, juniper bushes were provided and planted by the scouts along the top edge of the cleared area. |
In the words of Joe Connell:
“I am very thankful for the great job they did, great clean up and best of all they did not cut the cable line! A big thank you to Peter and his son, Anton for organizing this and bringing it to fruition and a big thank you to all of the Scouts, Scout leaders and parents that donated their time and energy!” Information about DC Scout Troop 61 can be found at DC Scout Troop 61. The Board of Trustees of Prospect Hill is very grateful for the work the DC Scout Troop 61 donated for the preservation and beautification of the cemetery. The juniper shrubs were a generous touch. Genl.Manager Vicki Burns, Scout Anton Schmeissner, Peter Schmeissner. |
2021 Memorial Day Service had to be cancelled due to the COVID 19 restrictions.
2020 Memorial Day Service had to be cancelled due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Monday, May 27, 2019 - Memorial Day Service
Members, lot owners and guests attended. Gerd Halusa, president of Prospect Hill Cemetery, was the MC. The Washington Sängerbund sang several selections with conductor Stephen Ackert. Al Wenzel presented a
Historical Perspective commemorating the Washington Saengerbund’s 150th anniversary of singing at Memorial Day services. Pastor Katja Albrecht of the United Church/Vereinigte Kirche was the homilist. She spoke of the long history of this cemetery and the reason we return to honor our relatives and friends who have gone before us.
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On Saturday, May 18, 2019 volunteers helped Superintendent Joe Connell with clean-up and preparing the grounds for the upcoming Memorial Day event. Extra hands are always needed and welcome! |
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Monday, May 28, 2018 - Memorial Day Service Members, lot owners and guests attended; Rudy Becker was the MC. The Washington Sängerbund sang several selections with conductor Nicholas Brown and accompanist Shuai Wang. Pastor Cordula Schmid-Wassmuth of the United ChurchVereinigte Kirche was the homilist. She reminded us of why we honor the fallen soldiers buried at PHC as well as our relatives and friends who have gone before us. 
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On Saturday, May 26, 2018 volunteers came to Prospect Hill Cemetery to assist Superintendent Joe Connell with clean-up and preparing the grounds for the upcoming Memorial Day event. pictured: Carol Holler, Jutta Volkman, Charles V, Charles VI & Charles VII Volkman, Gerd Halusa, Rudy Becker, Christine Hambach |
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Members, lot owners and guests attended on a nice spring day. The Washington Sängerbund sang several well-known German lieder with conductor Nicholas Alexander Brown and accompanist Shuai Wang. Rudy Becker read a biography of Henry Xander who was musical director of the Saengerbund for 14 years at the turn of the nineteenth century, and is buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery. German pastor Tabea Münz of the United Church/Vereinigte Kirche said prayers, and read a sermon.
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New Flag Dedication and Memorial Service
Members, lot owners and guests attended. It was a sunny fall day as the Washington Sängerbund sang the National Anthem during the ‘New Flag Dedication’, and with conductor Nicholas Alexander Brown and accompanist Shuain Wang, presented several selections, including a beautiful ‘Vater Unser’ by Christian Heinrich Rinck (1770-1846). German pastor Tabea Münz of the United Church/Vereinigte Kirche said prayers, and read a sermon for the memorial service.
Monday, May 30, 2016 – Memorial Day Service.
Due to a forecast of heavy rain the event had to be cancelled.
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Gerd Halusa, Douglas T. Ward, Hans Endrikat |
Members, lot owners and guests attended. The Washington Sängerbund, with conductor Nicholas Alexander Brown and accompanist Nadia Christova, presented a program of German hymns, including “Dank Deinem Segen” written by Douglas T. Ward * in memory of his late wife, and her ancestors who are buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery. Senior pastor Bill Federici of the United Church/Vereinigte Kirche said prayers, and spoke of the spiritual meaning of the cemetery.
* By Doug Ward:
"My late wife‘s family has graves spanning six generations at Prospect Hill Cemetery, beginning with J. Christ. Schultze, born in 1799, and his wife, Anna Dorothea Morgenroth, born in 1801, who emigrated from Germany. I wrote most of the hymn originally in English and also in German in 1994, near the time my wife and I first became pleasantly acquainted with Prospect Hill Cemetery. I felt like we needed more Thanksgiving hymns."
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Members, lot owners and guests attended. The Washington Sängerbund with conductor Nicholas Brown presented Bach cantata BMV 112 and several other german songs. Pastor Tabea Muenz of the United Church in her message included this poem she found on the internet from Civil War records.
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Play on, play on - he sleeps too well
To hear the music's melodious swell
Or the trampling of feet upon the ground;
He'll not wake till the last trumpet's sound.
When the prayer was said, and requiem played;
In the bosom of earth the warrior laid,
About the spot the soldier pressed,
Where the bones of their comrade were put to rest,
And eyes grew dim, and tongues were mute,
As they fired their thrice farewell salute,
That meed was his due and they paid the "brave,"
And then left him alone in his soldier grave.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Members and friends helped with the spring clean-up at Prospect
Hill Cemetery.
Taking a break!
Gerd Halusa and Christine Hambach
Eva Brandt
Charly Volkman
Monday, May 27, 2013
Memorial Day Service. Members, lot owners and guests attended.
Pastor Bill Federici of the United Church read a message from the
German pastor Tabea Münz who, regretfully, was unable to
attend.
The Washington Sängerbund presented "Nun danket alle Gott", "O
Täler weit, o Höhen", and "Lobet den Herren, den
mächtigen König der Ehren" under the direction of Melissa
Carter.
Refreshments were provided after the service.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Members and friends volunteered for
spring clean-up at Prospect
Hill Cemetery.
Maybe a few more hands would have been
helpful.
Monday, May 28, 2012 at 1pm
Memorial Day Service
Members, lot owners and guests attended.
A new grave marker for Julius Viedt, first president of the
Washington Sängerbund, was unveiled. The grave marker was
donated by members of the Washington Sängerbund. President Don
Christian delivered remarks in memory of Julius Viedt, and the chorus
performed several German songs. Pastor Tabea Muenz of the United
Church read verses and gave the blessing. Descendants of Julius Viedt
attended.
Refreshments were provided after the service.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Members and friends volunteered for a spring clean-up at Prospect
Hill Cemetery.
The group shown on a beautifull sunny day at the grave site of
Julius Viedt, first President of the Washington
Saengerbund.
Monday, May 30, 2011 at 1pm
Memorial Day Service
Members, lot owners and guests are invited.
Participants: Pastor of the United Church. Music by the Washington
Sängerbund.
Refreshments provided after the service.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Members and friends of the Washington Saengerbund volunteered their
time to help do a Spring Cleaning at Prospect Hill Cemetery. A
beautifull sunny day provided a park like background for the work
crew.
On the same day a new flagpole was placed near the gate at the
entrance; the dedication ceremony will be on Monday, May 31 as part
of the Memorial Day service.
Monday, May 31, 2010 at 1pm
Memorial Day Service and dedication of the new Memorial Grove
Members, lot owners and guests are invited.
Participants: Bodo Schwabe, Pastor of the United Church. Music by
the Washington Sängerbund.
Refreshments provided after the service.
More than 60 people attended. The dedication of the new Memorial
Grove at Prospect Hill Cemetery followed the Memorial Day service at
the cemetery.
Carol Holler, president of the cemetery’s board of trustees said the
grove was a dream come true and thanked District I for its
contribution and work.
Rudy Becker, the cemetery representative on the project committee
gave an overview of the history of the memorial grove project.
District I Director David Healy addressed the gathering
(see Garden Club blog).
He thanked the National Capital Area Garden Clubs for the donations
and work on the project and entrusted the grove to the care of the
cemetery. The Washington Sängerbund performed Wanderers
Nachtlied, a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe set to music by Franz
Schubert. This poem has been called the most famous lyric poem in
German literature.
Pastor Bodo Schwabe of The United Church gave the blessing. Project
Manager Charmane Truesdell took a bow.
Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 2pm
Totensonntag - All Souls Day Memorial Service
Members, lot owners and guests are invited to attend the annual
gathering in memory of loved ones. The Washington Sängerbund
will perform.
Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 10am - Storm Date: Saturday,
October 10
NATIONAL GARDEN CLUB civic project at historic cemetery ready to
plant
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Plantings to screen an unsightly maintenance yard.
HELP WANTED: District 1 club members needed to work at Prospect Hill Cemetery, September 19, at 10 a.m. Holes for plants will be dug in advance; some volunteers will assist with planting trees and shrubs and some will help with logistics and refreshments. Please bring: Bottled water, a sandwich and gloves; also bring things like shovels, rakes, blade or knife to open mulch bags, a large watering can. A sizeable turnout helped to complete the project as planned.
Saturday April 19, 2008
Students from the German Honor Society at W.T.Woodson High School,
Fairfax, VA
voluntered their time to Prospect Hill
Cemetery.
The Virginia Delta Omega chapter of the Delta Epsilon Phi German
Honor Society of W.T. Woodson High School, engaged in an educational
as well as helpful activity involving the clean up of Prospect Hill
Cemetery.
The 10 of us arrived armed with rakes and garbage bags, ready to
take on the leaves and sticks scattered across the grounds.
Mr. Connell was kind enough to leave instructions and extra bags in
order to make our work easier.
So, rolling up our sleeves in the beautiful and comfortable weather,
we tidied up the grounds, admiring the stonework on some of the
gravesites, while learning of the history of the cemetery and its
impact upon the surrounding community. The morning went quickly as
the team worked solidly for three hours straight.
At the end, we hope that we made a positive impact on the sight of
the cemetery and lent a helpful hand by being involved in its
upkeep.
Paulina Capar, Senior at W.T.Woodson High School
Sponsor of the German Honor Society is Myra Hillburg, German teacher at W.T.Woodson and member of the Washington Sängerbund
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