As you all know, Larry and Linda Kopet (and many other
contributors), have provided many, many photos to the WIGenWeb
Tombstone Photograph Pages.
They get many thank yous which they have shared with me over
the last few years. This one made me cry :-) and I wanted to
share.
It sums all the work we do so well ..
Tina.
--
My name is [snip], I live in [snip] and keep the
Genealogy records for our family. I wish to express a BIG
Thank you for all your efforts to make these headstones
available to us. At age seventy three it would not be possible
to travel and do the research you have shared with our family.
There is one ancestor missing from those in Riverside. Her
name is Cordelia M. Garrison, wife of L.J. Stafford and S.D.
Grout, is there a picture of her stone? I have attached a poem
that I found on the web, I am sure you have seen it but I
would like to shear if you have not. Best wishes always from
the Grout family.
YOUR TOMBSTONE
Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
You died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.
I wonder if you lived and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.
Author unknown