On Memorial Day We Pause to Honor Those Who Made The Ultimate Sacrifice for America -- For All of Us

You may have seen Andrew Lumish -- The Good Cemetarian -- spotlighted on national newscasts and featured in newspaper stories, etc., and have enjoyed learning more about him and his dedicated volunteer work cleaning veterans' headstones.  
Sharing the latest one from NBC News that aired on May 26, 2017, simply titled:  "Man Honors Veterans by Cleaning Their Headstones".  

Click Here for the Facebook Page for "The Good Cemetarian"

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As we are inspired by the dedication of others to bring awareness to the ongoing needs of cemeteries and the gravesites and gravestones they hold, we are reminded that indeed All Cemeteries Matter.

 So it is that all of our individual and collective efforts put forth toward their betterment means that no cemetery, or those who are buried in them, should be forgotten, or ignored and neglected.

Cemeteries sit silently along America's city streets and country roads alike awaiting to welcome visitors to come and explore their history and show their respect to them.  

Sadly, too many times vandals are the ones who find them only to damage and destroy the grave markers; including those of veterans, knowing that the cemetery is an easy target. 
  
 All we have to do is to walk through a cemetery and linger long enough to read the epitaphs and inscriptions on veterans' grave markers, noting those who were killed in action, to realize that they died for us, so that we may enjoy the freedoms we hold so dear now.
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Remembering all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.  Memorial Day  is dedicated to their memory and their heroism. 
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Thanking Mr. Mike Schrull for cleaning the grave marker of Airman First Class Eric Barnes and placing an American flag at his gravesite at Elmwood Cemetery in Lorain, Ohio.

"Ohioans facing issues with cemeteries can seek help from Department of Commerce"

Sharing a link to a news story that has been published in various Ohio newspapers in the past few days with the title.: 

"Ohioans Facing Issues with Cemeteries can seek help from Department of Commerce".  
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BUT, please keep in mind the fact that a cemetery has to be REGISTERED for the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission (of the Department of Commerce; Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing) to accept the complaint! 

"Ohioans facing issues with cemeteries can seek help from Department of Commerce"

Registered Cemetery Complaint Form
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***Thus, ONLY REGISTERED CEMETERIES in Ohio qualify for any complaints against their owners to be accepted by the Department of Commerce's Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission. This is important to remember! 

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Cemeteries that DO NOT have burials within the past twenty-five years DO NOT qualify and are NOT registered.*** 

***See more specifics below***:

"Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4767 provides the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission with responsibility over registered cemeteries."

"(C) Sections 4767.02 to 4767.04 of the Revised Code do not apply to or affect a family cemetery or a cemetery in which there have been no interments during the previous twenty-five calendar years. As used in this division, "family cemetery" means a cemetery containing the human remains of persons, at least three-fourths of whom have a common ancestor or who are the spouse or adopted child of that common ancestor." 

The Stevenson Cemetery - Xenia Township - Greene County, Ohio Benefits from Donations from the Daughters of the American Revolution

The "Dayton Daily News" Reports 

(May 22, 2017):

"Township to Restore Headstones" 

by Casey Laughter

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"XENIA TWP."

"Xenia Township has received a $5,000 matching grant for the restoration of 58 veteran grave stones and markers from as early as the revolutionary war in its Stevenson Cemetery on Jones Road. 

The restoration project was made possible from Cedar Cliff Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and matching grant funds came from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. 

Any interested person can register for a four-hour basic headstone restoration class if they agree to — under direct supervision — clean three other headstones in Stevenson Cemetery within a month of taking the class. 

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The class will be offered 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, June 2 at the cemetery. The rain date for the event is Saturday, June 3. 

**To RSVP, call Mary at 937-372-0859 by noon Thursday, June 1."**

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Sharing more details about this restoration project on the Xenia Township Website (scroll about half way down the page to see the photos and information.)

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The Stevenson Cemetery on "Find A Grave."

Stevenson Cemetery
Also known as: Massie's Creek Scotch Associate Graveyard, Old Massies Creek Cemetery