The West Point Monument is in West Point Cemetery and can be accessed through Elmwood Cemetery. West Point Monument was dedicated as a special place of burial for African-American Union Civil War and Spanish American War veterans. It is one of only a few African-American Civil War Memorials located in the South. The cornerstone of the monument was set on Decoration Day, May 30, 1909, and was completed in 1920. The Civil War soldier depicted on the monument is Norfolk native Sergeant William H. Carney of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment. Carney was the first black soldier to receive the Medal of Honor for his bravery. Nearly 100 African American veterans are laid to rest in the West Point Cemetery. West Point Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 and is now commemorated with a historical highway marker along Princess Anne Road.
African American