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Hannibal, MO —
The Riverside Cemetery Association Board’s effort to get a new grounds keeper in place by the time growing season returns is a sign of progress for the more than 100-year-old cemetery.
But they must have firm rules in place before someone is picked to do the job. We feel that this is the only way to keep the cemetery a beautiful and respectful burial ground for our family members and prominent citizens at rest there.
In the past, the cemetery has just been mowed and left alone until the grass grew back. That cannot and should not happen again with a new board in place.
Cemetery officials should have a full agreement with the mower that not only includes grass cutting, but clean up as well. The cemetery should be raked and roads should be swept of the excess grass so that the cemetery can be an adored burial ground with fantastic views of the Mississippi River for visitors paying their respects.
We believe that those who have died should be respected and a cemetery mowed without post-clean up is just as disrespectful as the knee-high grass and overgrown weeds witnessed in years gone by.
Before making a decision on a new mower for the cemetery, we very much encourage the Riverside Cemetery Association to establish an agreement that will be signed by the mower and the highest ranking members of the board to assure expectations will be met.
We also encourage the board to make the agreement public and available to all who have family and have adopted graves in the cemetery to so that many eyes can observe the proper job being carried out.
This is the only way the cemetery can remain a beautiful place.
The Riverside Cemetery Association Board’s effort to get a new grounds keeper in place by the time growing season returns is a sign of progress for the more than 100-year-old cemetery.
But they must have firm rules in place before someone is picked to do the job. We feel that this is the only way to keep the cemetery a beautiful and respectful burial ground for our family members and prominent citizens at rest there.
In the past, the cemetery has just been mowed and left alone until the grass grew back. That cannot and should not happen again with a new board in place.
Cemetery officials should have a full agreement with the mower that not only includes grass cutting, but clean up as well. The cemetery should be raked and roads should be swept of the excess grass so that the cemetery can be an adored burial ground with fantastic views of the Mississippi River for visitors paying their respects.
We believe that those who have died should be respected and a cemetery mowed without post-clean up is just as disrespectful as the knee-high grass and overgrown weeds witnessed in years gone by.
Before making a decision on a new mower for the cemetery, we very much encourage the Riverside Cemetery Association to establish an agreement that will be signed by the mower and the highest ranking members of the board to assure expectations will be met.
We also encourage the board to make the agreement public and available to all who have family and have adopted graves in the cemetery to so that many eyes can observe the proper job being carried out.
This is the only way the cemetery can remain a beautiful place.
