A heritage of caring (09/21/07)

The calls used to be a pretty common occurrence.

Someone would be visiting family and would stop by an old cemetery to leave flowers or pay respects.

And they would be horrified. Not only would things be overgrown, but there would be broken headstones and signs of vandalism.

Calls to the newspaper and letters to the editor were commonplace.

But something's been happening, folks, and there's been a meaningful change for the better.

Several years ago, with prodding from some local genealogy buffs, the county commissioners established the Jay County Cemetery Commission. Its charge is to provide for the restoration of those old "Pioneer" cemeteries that don't have anyone else to care for them.

A place like Green Park Cemetery in Portland is well cared for, but tiny rural cemeteries often become orphans.

Originally, the commission received two cents on the county tax rate. State law at the time would have allowed it to receive 50 cents.

Since changes in the way property is assessed, the commission receives a flat amount from the county budget. These days, that's $40,000 a year.

Each year, working on a rotating schedule, the commission pays to have a number of cemeteries professionally restored, with headstones repaired and re-seated. This year, four cemeteries were restored. Next year, another handful will be taken care of.

To date, more than 20 Jay County cemeteries have been returned to their proper state. And the work will continue each year; it will never actually be finished.

That's the way it should be, perpetual care and an ongoing respect for those who have gone before us. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]