North Sawba Cemetery
Mississippi Co AR-AHGP site
Dedicated by Don Bowan

Seemingly hidden among six 7-feet tall, 3-feet wide tablets making up a monument for the people buried at the North Sawba Cemetery, Medlock points out the name of her sister, Rosetta Bolin, who died before the 55-year-old Medlock was born.

"I remember visiting her grave as a child," Medlock said.

But for 37 years, people with relatives buried at North Sawba Cemetery weren't allowed to visit the site because th cemetery is within the fences that previously surrounded Eaker Air Force Base. When the base closed in December 1992, Medlock and others were once again allowed on the site.

Tuesday morning a dedication was held at the monument. More than 50 people attended the 20-minute ceremony emceed by Blytheville Administrative Assistant gary Hughey. Blytheville Mayor Joe Gude, Gosnell Mayor Dick Reams and Arkansas Rep. Ann Bush were among those attending the ceremony.

Ruby Huntzicker also had reason to attend the ceremony. In addition to having about 40 relatives buried in the cemetery, her late husband was instrumental in getting the monument erected in the first place.

After the base closed, Gene Huntzicker and a handful of others started working with Air Force officials to place a monument at the cemetery, Ruby Huntzicker said. Just days after Gene Huntzicker signed over a check from the Air Force to pay for the monument, he died.

Roses and carnations in funeral arrangements sat in front of the monument with red bows on both sides of an opening into the monument that sat U-shaped on a concrete foundation. Around the foundation, the monument was protected by a pipe railing.

Gene Huntzicker was one of three of the five original committee members who died before the monument was finished.

"I believe they are looking down on us today," Hughey said. "I believe they are proud of this. This is a beautiful, beautiful monument. The city of Blytheville is proud to have it here."

North Sawba Cemetery opened Oct. 10, 1875, acording to information released by the committee. As a free public cemetery, people from around Mississippi County and the Missouri Bootheel are buried at the location. It is believed that the cemetery contains casualties from the Civil War battle on the Pemiscot Bayou. It also contains some World War 1 veterans.

The cemetery came under government jurisdiction first on April 17, 1942, when the U.S. Army opened a twin engine flying field. In 1945, the air field was deactivated.

Ten years later, the cemetery and surrounding areas came under government jurisdictionagain with the opening of Blytheville Air Force Base, later renamed Eaker Air Force Base.