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catfish1976's Blog

by catfish1976 from Illinois

Last Post 1 day, 5 hours Ago


I know a lot of you folks have loved ones buried somewhere in your area or in a diffferent town or state.  I just want to tell you that you should go check on their graves as often as possible.  The reason I am writing this is because back in April of this year, Sue and I went to visit Debra's grave.  When I got there, I had noticed that whoever cut the grass, made tire tracks with the mower they were using.  Granted they were just tire tracks, but the number of stones that we found damaged, included some dating from the  1900's or earlier.  We noticed that the persons cutting the grass also drive the mower on the mosoleums.  So, Sue and I decided to go get pictures of the damage, and we could not get over it.   We found veteran markers made of copper with the corners cut or gashed by the blade of the mower.  
  I make it my best to go to Deb's grave once a week, and when I was out there 2 weeks ago, I noticed a different stone that was knocked over.  Then this afternoon, I went back out there, and I noticed it, along with a couple others, plus my late wife's  marker, were all damaged. 
 I did notify the cemetery board about all the damage.  I even took the photos and gave them to her.   She said that some could have been damaged from previous lawn care personel.  I told her yes that  is true, but a lot of the damage was done this year.  I can tell by the marks on the stones or the blade cuts on the copper markers.
 I went out and took pics again tonite for proof of the damage. 
I would like to know if there is a way that the people who did the damage, can be held responsible for the damage.  Like I said earlier, alot of the stones are dated around 1900.  Yes, they are old, but  a person can see the carelessness of the job they are doing.
  I am posting some of the pictures I took back in April and of the shots I took tonite.   Many of you may not realize what kind of idiots are cutting the grass at your local cemetery.
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catfish1976 read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 8:38 PM

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Notice the tire tracks on this mosoleum.

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catfish1976 read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 8:40 PM

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Look what a lawn mower blade can do to a copper verteran marker.

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catfish1976 read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 8:45 PM

Here are the tire tracks that I mentioned earlier.

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Then the idiots got stuck in this grave or close to it.

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catfish1976 read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 8:49 PM

This WAS somebody's flower planter. Now it is a trash can. And would you believe that there is MORE trash in it. I saw that again tonite.

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catfish1976 read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 8:51 PM

The next few pics are what I took tonite while visiting Debra's grave.

I uprighted this stone about a week ago. Now it is on it's side AGAIN.

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catfish1976 read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 8:55 PM

This next stone was hit by the riding mower. You can see the scratch marks on the lower part of the foundation for the stone. Notice how far the stone is from its foundation.

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Granted this is an older stone, but at least it was still standing the last time I was out there. Notice the brightness of the foundation where it was broke off.

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catfish1976 read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 8:57 PM

Here is one with a solar light out of place. It should be on the corner of the grave.

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catfish1976 read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 8:59 PM

The last 2 photos are of my late wife's grave. Notice the marker laying on its side. The tripod that held it, the legs were bent to where I had to straighten them the best I could.

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rosie read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 9:02 PM

someone stole the solar lights off my mother and fathers grave.. i go there often and the people that mow are really good, just dried grass on the stones..

catfish1976 read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 9:04 PM

Yes, I am totally P_ssed!!! I must admit that I have not gone thru the cemetery on a regular basis, but since Debra is buried there I do now.
My brother and I have cut the grass there years ago, and we gave all graves respect.
If one did get damaged, it was reported. Nowadays, if a stone gets damaged, its OH WELL.
I will keep checking on stones and if I ever find another one damaged, I will file a written report and will try my best to have whoever is doing the mowing FIRED.

catfish1976 read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 9:06 PM

The pics that are on here are just a select few. I didn't want to put stones up with peoples names on them out of respect.

mr_wildflower read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 9:21 PM

Send those pics to the local press and to the cemetary office..... Vandalism is against the law.... The mowing mishaps should be on the Cematary's head........

suzseeq read my blog view my photos
Jul 9, 2008 | 9:27 PM

It's just plain carelessness and disrespect! But that seems to be a lot of places nowadays. At just about any job. People just don't care. It is very sad that these people get away with this. It's not about money...but those tombstones and mosoleums are extremely expensive! They should be held responsible! I understand age and weather play a part in some damage; but the things we saw and the pics we took; are just plain carelessness of the people who are being paid to BE CAREFUL!

Something needs to be done!

crickyann read my blog
Jul 9, 2008 | 9:47 PM

There's just no excuse for that kind of neglect and disrespect! Luckily, I mainly just visit my dad's at JB and boyfriend's from 2003 at Resurrection in SW county and both are impeccable.

jeanette read my blog view my photos
Jul 10, 2008 | 6:36 AM

It is ashame for sure. I also hate it when people put them silk flower's on and never take them off,After a few month's they look awlful and they don't get back for year's .Alot of cemetary's do slean the off before mowing. I noticed the 4th that most of our cemetary's down here didn't mow. That was unusual to me.We pick up trash were we are gonna be planted when we stop, The trash barrel is alway's full. But I think people use it to dump their trash from home or clean out their car. Hope you can get something done.

harp read my blog view my photos
Jul 10, 2008 | 6:42 AM

I would get ahold of who ever owns the cemetary and report it to them..I know if you report i ti the American Leagion they will probly do something because of vetrans stones damaged..

And if the american Leagion is the one who hires who takes care of the cemtary then they will fire them..

In Ohio there are 2 cemetarys I know of that the american Leagion hires people to take care of..So I know if the are in charge of this cemetary they will do something..If they are not they still may because ofvetrans who are resting there...

USFemail-retired read my blog view my photos
Jul 10, 2008 | 6:50 AM

Somebody has vandalized my Dad's grave several times. I don't understand why peopke have to either steal or tear things up. How can you get your jollys that way? We get pretty upset about it.

superjaybrd read my blog view my photos
Jul 10, 2008 | 8:22 AM

Aww..Ron, that is terrible!
Seems to me that a lot of people have no respect for the living, so they sure as heck won't have respect for the dead!
I hope this problem can be resolved! Maybe if there were other families complaining, it would get more attention by the cemetary people. Good Luck!

stlgirl read my blog view my photos
Jul 10, 2008 | 11:03 AM

OMG!! My dad's has had things stolen... REAllY PI$$ES ME OFF!! I always try to get there as often as possible to keep it cleaned off. My cousins cut the grass at the cemetery so that makes me feel better knowing that much, but the way I see it the LOW LIFE PUNKS WHO THINK ITS FUNNY TO STEAL AND VANDALIZE WILL GET WHATS COMING TO THEM ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!!
TC!

bassoonist22 read my blog view my photos
Jul 10, 2008 | 1:03 PM

I have visited several small cemeteries for geneology purposes and I'm always amazed at how nicely the very small country cemeteries are cared for. The grass is always cut and things seem to be treated with respect. One cemetery was seriously in someone's back yard!

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catfish1976

Love being a FOX2 blogger. Have met several nice folks thanks to FOX2. Sue and I purchased a camera back in the Fall of last year, and haven't really stopped taking photos since we got it. Still trying to figure it out. Now, if it would quit raining for a while, we just might be able to get some fishing in.

Member Since: 1/7/2008