I'm not one to make a real habit of visiting the grave sites of deceased family members. I kind of figure that if I need to talk to them for some reason that they will hear me just as well anyplace I might be as they might where their bodies are interred. My Dad is buried in a plot with other of his family members in a cemetery that is off any of my beaten paths, but last weekend I found myself driving by and decided to stop in and see how things were looking. It pretty much all looked the same, but one thing really bothered me.
If you've been to a cemetery you may have noticed the foot markers placed by the Veteran's Administration on the grave sites of former members of our military forces. My dad, who served in the Navy beginning late in WWII and my uncle who was on the beach in Normandy were both given those markers. What was so sad was that they were so overgrown with sod and grass that they were not readable at all. I dragged Pete back with garden tools to rectify that situation as soon as I could.
While we were there, and Pete did all of the work, I strolled around and could see where there are many markers also hidden under the grass. I know that the upkeep of these markers is, ummm, well it is a job that I guess cannot be expected of the caretakers of the cemeteries, and I know that as generations of families go by that visits to graves of ancestors to keep up with these things is a lot to expect. It just seems that these markers should be cleaned up periodically. It seems like this could be a great project for a Boy or Girls Scout Troop. Or an Eagle Scout project. I don't know.
2010. Fifty-three. Honor your Veterans if you can and go clean up those markers.
Maybe I'll clean up some markers. We could start a little group or something, make a cemetery cleanup day.
Posted by: MEG | April 27, 2010 at 05:28 PM
That's a wonderful idea. I wonder if there's a scout troop or two out there that would be interested in doing something.
Posted by: Cookie | April 27, 2010 at 06:16 PM
Our cemetery custodian who has been tending our cemetery most of his life does all of that as do the families. Granted our cemetery here is small. He's a veteran from the Korean War. I think your idea of it becoming a Boy/Girl Scout project is great.
Posted by: Manise | April 28, 2010 at 08:17 AM
That's a good idea.
Posted by: Renee | April 29, 2010 at 10:21 AM
Sometimes cemeteries get scraggly at the time of the year because they hold off until just before Memorial day to clean them up. I know the one in West Newbury where my Rachel is, is always spruced up the week before.
If yours doesn't I think it would be a fabulous idea for the scouts!
Posted by: Kim | April 29, 2010 at 01:40 PM
Personally I feel those required to do community service or weekend detention should be taking care of the graves of fallen soldiers.Perhaps they will learn something of the wonderful people who have lost their lives for our freedom.
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