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Volunteer for your local Cemetery

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Contributed by: Clint Ingram on 8/11/2008

Recently, a story was posted by Sami Griffin called The Unlikely Volunteer. Posted 8-4-08 and in some hubs on 8-8-08. I myself thought this story was very well written which I think came from her heart and soul. Volunteers are always needed at all cemeteries. Volunteers are needed to help with a walking tour that will happen on September 13, 2008 at Evergreen cemetery. Funds raised from this tour will be used to help with restoration and/or preservation of headstones that have been damaged due to just overall time or vandalism. Most people do not understand that the city or county might keep up the watering and mowing of a cemetery, but the overall responsibility of headstones is up to family members.

There is one problem, most headstones that need help either do not have family members still alive or they can not afford the upkeep needed to preserve or restore the headstone itself. That is where volunteers come in. With the proper research and training, preservation and restoration can be done in the proper way. I myself will try and help where I can.

Then the worst happened. Vandalisim. Not at Evergreen Cemetery, but at Roselawn cemetery in Pueblo. This cemetery was hit hard which according to News 13 had at least 80 of their oldest headstones vanalized, belonging to some of Pueblo's first residents. Some of the headstones have already been fixed, but because of the age of some of the headstones, most of them will never be replaced. You may think that, well that really stinks, but what if it was one of your relatives, what would you do? Would you want to go out and see one of your family members headstone's split in half? Not me. I think the whole idea that someone actually did this is wrong. The vandalizers probably thought it was fun, but if my relatives were buried there, or any other cemetery, I would be upset that this action was even taken.

Volunteers are what makes restoration and preservation happen. Its not just Evergreen cemetery or any other cemetery, its all of them. United States and the world. You are thinking, well my relatives just passed away, vandalisim can't happen to my family members. Got news for all, no headstone is immune. You live in Colorado, Ok, who is taking care of your family members on the East coast, North or south or west of here. Or even overseas.I will tell you, Volunteers. Go to your local cemetery and see what you can do to help. You will feel better about yourself and meet new friends. Do some research on someone in the cemetery. You may find out that you are actually related to them in some way, or just get to know them, where they came from, what they did and who they really were. Their history may intrigue you.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFO

Clint Ingram

security , CO

Clint Ingram has posted 38 stories and 5 comments since joining on 5/20/2008. Clint Ingram 's average story rating is 5.

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