South Jersey Girl Scouts Clean Historic Gravestones in Vineland

Vineland, New Jersey — A Girl Scout troop based in Cumberland County is earning recognition for its hands-on public service at one of Vineland’s most historic sites. On Monday, members of Troop 96257 visited Siloam Cemetery to clean gravestones dating back to the 1800s. The scouts, all in fourth and fifth grade, began the day with a demonstration on how to properly clean and preserve old headstones. After the briefing, the girls got to work applying what they learned to help restore markers throughout the cemetery grounds. Siloam Cemetery, located on North Valley Avenue, is the oldest cemetery in Vineland. Established in 1864, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. Several notable historical figures are buried there, including Vineland founder Charles K. Landis, suffragist Portia Gage, and Thomas Bramwell Welch, known for developing Welch’s grape juice. Troop 96257 has been active since 2024 and is based near Pittsgrove. The troop includes 12 young girls who take part in community engagement projects well beyond the typical image of cookie sales. Their service work at the cemetery earned praise on social media, with residents calling their effort generous, beautiful, and inspiring. The troop says its goal is to help local youth learn about history, preservation, and responsibility through real-world experiences.