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Editorial — Shame on you cemetery vandals
No good can come out of vandalism, especially in a cemetery. But several weeks ago, the Austerlitz Cemetery, undisturbed for nearly 180 years, was indeed vandalized. Now, with winter around the corner and thousands and thousands of dollars in damage, it may be a while before the cemetery is put back together.
The Austerlitz Cemetery is only an acre and a half, perhaps small in comparison to several others in the county, but it is no less important. In fact, the cemetery can claim fame to hosting the gravesite of Nancy Reagan’s great-great-grandmother. But more importantly, the cemetery is full of families with long ties to the history of the town.
When those vandals came in and knocked over stones, breaking several along the way, they were messing with that history. Some of those stones are so old, there may be no fixing or replacing them.
Robert Herron, one of the cemetery board trustees, threw out $10,000 as an estimate, but even if it doesn’t come out to be that much, any number into the thousands is a lot for a small-town cemetery. State funds could help, but some of the burden may fall on the families. It’s unfair to put loved ones through that — emotionally and physically.
Not only were gravestones knocked over, but flower arrangements and various items that loved ones have left were strewn about and in some cases, thrown over the fence along one side of the cemetery.
Herron said that a few of the stones had fallen prior to the vandalism and that the board had raised money for those repairs, but these repairs are even more drastic. He said the stone people will have to come in and pick up all the stones and re-cement what they can. The catch — temps need to be a little warmer to re-cement, so repairs most likely won’t happen until spring.
He said that the cemetery is pretty well kept, so the repairs will happen as soon as they can, but cemeteries are hurting, financially. It’s a cost the cemetery can’t — and shouldn’t — incur.
The Red Rock Cemetery, which is even older than the one in Austerlitz, is having the same difficulties — trying to take care of an old, but important cemetery with little in the cemetery fund. Ward Stone, president of the Red Rock Cemetery Board, gave a talk Saturday for the very purpose of making people aware of the financial hardship and upkeep the cemetery faces.
It truly is a shame that the Austerlitz Cemetery was vandalized. We don’t care how bored or bad the vandals are, there is no excuse for desecrating the gravestones of those no longer living and causing a great burden on the cemetery board and the families. And if the vandals are caught, perhaps they’ll be ordered to help with cemetery repairs or pay for the damages. Shame on you vandals. Shame on you!
The Austerlitz Cemetery is only an acre and a half, perhaps small in comparison to several others in the county, but it is no less important. In fact, the cemetery can claim fame to hosting the gravesite of Nancy Reagan’s great-great-grandmother. But more importantly, the cemetery is full of families with long ties to the history of the town.
When those vandals came in and knocked over stones, breaking several along the way, they were messing with that history. Some of those stones are so old, there may be no fixing or replacing them.
Robert Herron, one of the cemetery board trustees, threw out $10,000 as an estimate, but even if it doesn’t come out to be that much, any number into the thousands is a lot for a small-town cemetery. State funds could help, but some of the burden may fall on the families. It’s unfair to put loved ones through that — emotionally and physically.
Not only were gravestones knocked over, but flower arrangements and various items that loved ones have left were strewn about and in some cases, thrown over the fence along one side of the cemetery.
Herron said that a few of the stones had fallen prior to the vandalism and that the board had raised money for those repairs, but these repairs are even more drastic. He said the stone people will have to come in and pick up all the stones and re-cement what they can. The catch — temps need to be a little warmer to re-cement, so repairs most likely won’t happen until spring.
He said that the cemetery is pretty well kept, so the repairs will happen as soon as they can, but cemeteries are hurting, financially. It’s a cost the cemetery can’t — and shouldn’t — incur.
The Red Rock Cemetery, which is even older than the one in Austerlitz, is having the same difficulties — trying to take care of an old, but important cemetery with little in the cemetery fund. Ward Stone, president of the Red Rock Cemetery Board, gave a talk Saturday for the very purpose of making people aware of the financial hardship and upkeep the cemetery faces.
It truly is a shame that the Austerlitz Cemetery was vandalized. We don’t care how bored or bad the vandals are, there is no excuse for desecrating the gravestones of those no longer living and causing a great burden on the cemetery board and the families. And if the vandals are caught, perhaps they’ll be ordered to help with cemetery repairs or pay for the damages. Shame on you vandals. Shame on you!
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Citizen17 wrote on Nov 20, 2009 6:49 AM: