A BIG Thank You—Thank you with sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone who was able to help with our pre-Memorial Day Community Clean-up of the cemetery grounds on Saturday, May 21. It was wonderful and refreshing to see a number of new faces helping out. We had a great turn-out and so much was accomplished: weed eating, vinca vine and sweet pea pulled, and markers brushed off. Fortunately the rains held off until after all the piles were picked-up and bagged. The clean-up was a big help to our Cemetery Sexton Richard Shields in preparing the cemetery grounds for the Memorial Day holiday and all the visitors.

Flags and Our Memorial Day Meet and Greet—Thank you to all our volunteers who once again made Memorial Day a special tribute to our Veterans and those men and women who are currently on active duty. On Saturday, May 28, volunteers Neil and Beverly Smith, Susan White, Bill and Debbie Miller, Tony and Joan Hess, Dan Kaylin and Betsy Sharp placed flags on over 360 grave sites of those Veterans who rest in the Jacksonville Cemetery.

Thank you to Kathy Waltz, Joan Hess and Betsy Sharp for joining Mary and me on both Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30 greeting families and visitors and helping them find gravesite locations, and spending time talking with families about their loved ones. It really is a special and meaningful way to spend the Memorial Day Holiday. Also, thank you to all of you who took the time to come by and visit and share some time with us.

JULY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

History Saturday, Saturday, July 9 at 10:00am—Join us for a talk and walking tour when our topic will be “The Law: Judges, Lawyers and maybe a Sheriff or Two,” presented by Docents Ellen Martin, Robert Hight and Gail Nicholson. We suggest wearing comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Meet your docents at the top of the Cemetery Road where you will find parking available. History Saturday in the Cemetery is presented on the second Saturday of each month, May through September 10, and features new topics each month. No advance reservations are required and the tour is free. Donations are always appreciated and help support the work of the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery, a Jacksonville-based non-profit organization.

Evening Cemetery Stroll in the Jacksonville Cemetery, Tuesday, July 12 at 6:30pm—Take an after-dinner stroll in the cemetery grounds with the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery on the second Tuesday of the month through August 9.

Our July tour, with Docents Lynn Ransford and Anne Peugh, will be in the Masonic Section of the Cemetery. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes for this 90-minute tour. Meet your docents at the top of the Cemetery Road where you will find parking available. No advance reservations are required and there is no charge for this program. Donations are appreciated and help support the work of the FOJHC.

Marker Cleaning Workshop, Saturday, July 16, at 9:00am—Join us for a fun and easy volunteer project of cleaning markers in the cemetery. Workshops are held on the third Saturday of every month April through September starting at 9:00am until 12 noon. We meet at the Sexton’s Tool House at the top of the Cemetery Road where parking is available. All the necessary tools and supplies are provided along with instructions on proper and safe cleaning procedures. Dress for this hands-on project as you may get a little wet!

Please visit our website at: www.friendsjvillecemetery.org for complete details on these and other cemetery events and activities or call 541 826-9939 with questions.

Thank you for your continued interest, support and help in caring for Jacksonville’s Pioneer Cemetery.