Rose Hill Cemetery

The history of an event can be represented through buildings, landmarks, statues, museums, and even paintings. However, we often forget that some of the best moments throughout history can be remembered by the visiting of a cemetery. When approaching the tombstone of a once fallen soldier or even a architecture, pools of visuals flood the brain hitting us with images of what may have taken place. It doesn’t stop there. The land on which the cemetery is placed can be a historic landmark. This all describes Rose Hill Cemetery.

Established in 1874 and is located at Phenie Avenue & Lelia Street in Texarkana, Texas. Rose Hill is more than just a local cemetery, it is a memorial home to many Texarkana pioneers, forebears and veterans dating back to the Civil War. Opened from the hours of 7am to 7pm, family members can come visit and say some peaceful words to their fallen loved ones. What greets them behind the gate are the well groomed fields freshly mowed and precisely attended to. With stretches of open green fields, one will see the beautiful trees that surrounds the neatly kept graves. A U.S. flag that waves proudly above signifying what was fought many years ago, freedom. Lastly is a well sculpted Otis Henry statue.

Otis Henry born June 22, 1894, in Denison, Texas. Standing at a medium height with grey eyes and dark brown hair, Otis was drafted into the war in 1917 at the 23. Otis was one of the many veterans that fought for our country and is now buried in Rose Hill. If it wasn’t for his mother the statue would never have been built. Falling to a deadly gas attack, Otis resembles that the people of Texarkana also played a part in the first world war. And with Otis statue, People can visit and embark on the bravery that he once had. Others that left a mark are Captain Francis Marion Henry. A captain but also one of the cities founding fathers.

Texarkana is often overlooked as a small town with very little to do. In reality there is so much to be seen and learned. A lot of history fills this town, but is overshadowed with the comments “Dallas is closer lets go there,” “or Texarkana is so boring, there is nothing here.” However, with a closer look one can see there is so much more. Rose Hill Cemetery being one of those places.  Anywhere from giving acknowledgement to the fallen veterans to looking at the beautiful scenery. Rose Hill resembles a big part of Texarkana’s history.