By Cindy Peterson
Explore Leesburg’s Lone Oak Cemetery with a Special Moonlight Tour
Break winter’s monotony with a fun and educational moonlight tour of Leesburg’s historic Lone Oak Cemetery on Thursday, February 13.
This event, featuring tours by longtime Leesburg residents and descendants of the area’s most prominent early families, will provide a unique, night visit to the cemetery and its most notable burial sites. The evening sky will make an ideal setting with a full moon helping to light the way.
Tours will highlight remarkable gravesites dating back to 1867 including Leesburg’s namesake Evander Lee, the Robertson-Hester family and our own hometown hero, Staff Sgt. Franklin P. Hall. Staff Sgt. Hall was listed as killed in action but non-recoverable in WWII; however, after 80 years he was identified and brought home to be buried in his family plot. Visitors will also discover how wild-west sharpshooter Annie Oakley became part of Lone Oak history.
Tours are offered every 20 minutes from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free – donations will be accepted. The event will also include a fundraising raffle and ice cream social. Proceeds benefit the Lone Oak Cemetery.
Lone Oak Cemetery is located at 306 Thomas Avenue in Leesburg. For more information on the moonlight tour, call Tracy Metcalf at (352) 326-9085.
Originally from the small town of Berryville, Arkansas, Cindy has become a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography, and video editing. She has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine's Sports Hub Podcast and the Healthy Living Podcast. She also produces for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy loves traveling the National Parks with her husband , Ryan, and son, David, photographing wildlife.
