06/12/2020
Update: June 11, 2020 - If you are not aware, the cemetery is in the hands of a new board of trustees. I discuss this more below and in my prior posts. Please scroll through this page from its start to see the efforts taken during the last 2 plus years to bring this place back to better health. It is important to see the transition through to last December, and to see it today.
From what I saw on my first visit in 2018 to what was accomplished in 2 years was truly miraculous. There were helping hands that answered the call, donating their time, tools, material and labor from the goodness of their hearts. There was steady progress and new tasks taken on each day. Goals were being set and goals were being met. Meanwhile, in the background, a storm was brewing. Complaints were filed with the State stating that the property was not being managed well and that there were many things not being addressed. The long list included the poor condition of the wrought-iron perimeter fence and public sidewalk along the highway. Other complaints were frivolous and some not true, as to say that the lawn was not cared for is a crock of crap. These complaints spun off into legal actions and finally a court decision and appointment of a new board of trustees, with the leader being the initial complainant. I expressed my feelings to this individual, stating that had there been better communication and less finger-pointing, we could have all worked together to do even more to bring the cemetery back into full function.
I knew that the new group bit off more than they could chew. The work that was done under my watch was intense. The hours each week spent to keep up with the grass and to continue pushing into the remaining overgrown areas was very demanding. To think that this could be done without the support of volunteers at the level that was being put forth is crazy. To date, since the takeover, the grass has been cut once buy a paid lawn service. It was stated on the cemetery billboard that the property would be cut 4 times this year. Based on the dates posted, the second cut was missed and the next one is not until the end of June. Meanwhile, the properties radiance continues to fade as the grass grows tall and w**ds and tree saplings take over again. The dropped tree limbs and other debris just lays there now. And as you pass by, the curb side view is not inviting.
The new board of trustee’s mission statement is: “Restoring Dr. Green’s Vision”. Based on what I saw today, this is a punch in the gut for the families and friends of those buried here and for the volunteers that worked so hard to actually restore this sacred place. Sadly, it will once again be called a disgraceful.
I hope and pray that the new regime can find a way to address the immediate issues soon and that their plans begin to come together. This place deserves better.
