Ms. Burnett's message brought the subject of "Lonely Graves" to my mind
once
again. Many of us are now far removed from the last resting places of our
ancestors, places where the culture has changed or simply where the
underbrush has moved in. My son and I stood in the Raglesville cemetery at
Easter several years ago next to our family plot, and thought that, but for
a caretaker's efforts, the area would probably have long reverted to its
prairie origins. As descendents of the people resting in such places, we are
beholden to caretakers, cemetery walkers, people who protest disinterments
being made for the "progress" of parking lots, and so on, many of whom have
no direct connection to the sites. One could cite many examples of this
unselfish respect paid to "Lonely Graves" by people of subsequent
generations. At Memorial Day I remember them, as well as those who have gone
before.
John Ragle