History Saturday, June 11, 10:00-11:30am—Please join the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery for our second program of the year, “The Chinese: Their Role in Jacksonville’s History,” presented by Docents Lynn Ransford and Anne Peugh. This program promises to be very interesting and informative. Following the talk, there will be a short walking tour to grave sites relating to the subject, so be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a hat and wear sunscreen. Meet your docents at the top of the Cemetery Road where you will find available parking spaces. The program is free and no advance reservations are necessary. We gladly accept donations from those who can afford to do so and wish to support the work of our organization in preserving this Pioneer Cemetery.

A big thank you to Bill and Debbie Miller for their wonderful May 14 presentation on “Coming Home—The return of Jacksonville’s WWI dead after their three year burial in France.”

Evening Cemetery Stroll, June 14, 6:30-8:00pm—Take an after-dinner stroll with us and learn some of the history of the Jacksonville Cemetery and the various religious and fraternal organizations that make up this 30-plus acre Pioneer Cemetery. This month’s stroll will be through the Jewish and Catholic Sections and will be led by Ellen Martin and Pam Smith.

Meet your docents at the top of the Cemetery Road where you will find plenty of parking available. Like History Saturday, the program is free and no advance reservations are required. Thank you to Joan Hess for assisting me with our first Cemetery Stroll on May 10, when we visited some sites in the older City Section.

Marker Cleaning and Workshop, June 18, 9:00am-noon—Want to get involved in an interesting and fun volunteer activity? Then join us on Saturday, June 18 and the third Saturday of the month through September 17, to learn how to safely and properly clean the headstones and monuments in the Jacksonville Cemetery. We meet at the Sexton’s Tool House at the top of the Cemetery Road for instructions as to the area we will be working in, and to pick up your tools and supplies. Dress for the project as you may get a little wet.

Thank you to all our volunteers who attended our April 16, marker cleaning workshop and out-did themselves by cleaning 25 markers, a very impressive number for sure.

Check our website for additional details on these and all events and activities at: www.friendsjvillecemetery.org.

Thank you for your continued support!

Photo is of Savanna Varela and her mother, Conni at the April 2016 marker cleaning workshop. Photo by Mary Siedlecki.