Before telling you about what the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery has planned this spring, I would like to thank the volunteers who were able to help with our Community Clean-up of the Cemetery grounds on March 31. Fifteen volunteers filled 82 large trash bags with leaves and made a number of piles of branches and limbs. Thank you for all that you did in helping to clean-up the grounds of winter debris.

Upcoming May Events

Tuesday Evening Cemetery Stroll, May 8, 6:30-8:00pm—Join us for an after-dinner stroll through the cemetery grounds to learn some of its history. Our topic this month is “Cemetery 101,” focusing on how the cemetery was laid out, monument styles, types and origin of stone used, and who made the monuments. We will discuss our efforts to preserve these works of art for future generations to see and appreciate. Our Tuesday Evening Strolls are offered on the Second Tuesday of the month May-August. Each month a new topic will be presented.

History Saturday in the Cemetery, May 12, 10:00-11:30am—Our first program promises to be fun and informative—“Pioneer Brides – To Love and to Cherish,” will be presented by Docents Lynn Ransford and Anne Peugh. Learn about early wedding announcements, marriage ceremonies, wedding attire, wedding receptions, food, wedding gifts and relationships between brides and grooms. History Saturday Programs are offered on the second Saturday of the month, May-August with a new topic each month.

Both programs are free with no advance reservations required. Meet your Docents at the top of the Cemetery Road where parking is available. We suggest wearing comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. Please visit our website at: www.friendsjvillecemetery.org for complete details and topics. Donations are always appreciated and help support the work of our organization in restoring and preserving the cemetery.

Community Clean-up Day, May 19, 8:00am-12:00 noon—Please join us to help prepare the cemetery grounds for the Memorial Day Holiday and visiting families and friends. Bring your work gloves, eye and ear protection along with gas-operated lawn mowers, weed eaters, blowers, leaf rakes, brooms and pruners. We have a number of garden tools available to use, as well. Morning refreshments and freshly-brewed coffee will be offered along with much appreciation and gratitude.

Flags, May 26, 9:00am until done!—Volunteers will work in groups and place 400 flags on the gravesites of those Veterans who rest under the Madrones in our cemetery. The flags, purchased by the FOJHC, are maintained and stay in place until Veterans Day in November. Volunteers then remove the flags which are then taken to the Eagle Point National Cemetery for disposal.

Memorial Day Cemetery Meet and Greet, Sunday, May 27 and Monday, May 28, 11:00am-3:00pm—Volunteers will be present to greet and assist family and friends of those buried within the cemetery grounds in locating their gravesites. They will also be able to answer questions about the cemetery and the work of the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery. New this year, we will be offering walking tours to the gravesites of some of the 400 Veterans buried in the cemetery and sharing their stories with visitors. Tours will depart at 1:00pm and 2:00pm each day and take approximately 45 minutes. Tours are free and no advance reservations are required.

If you’re interested in volunteering to help place flags on May 26, or helping to man our reception table on May 27 and/or May 28, please give me a call at 541-826-9939 or email info.friendsjvillecemetery.org.