Maggie Barnett and several others, on behalf of La-Harpe VFW Auxiliary and Iola American Legion, are selling cakes, cookies and other sweet delights today at Walmart to raise money to accentuate recognition of veterans.
A few years ago, when scrap metal prices peaked, 50 to 60 brass — or bronze, which is about the same — markers were stolen and turned to cash that dirtied the hands of those who received it.
Barnett said new markers, with slots to hold small U.S. flags, will be of aluminum, a metal that in the best days of a scrapper’s career doesn’t fetch too much per pound. Today the price paid for aluminum is less than a third of brass.
Goal for the bake sale is $1,000. I suspect that sum will be laid down before the sale is over. If you’ve an aversion to sweets — a near impossibility from my perspective — drop by the sale and make a donation, or go ahead and buy something and bring it by the Register office Monday morning. I guarantee it will be appreciated and promptly consumed.
I recently drove through Highland Cemetery, which has an area set aside for veterans that features an obelisk honoring those who served in World War I. The absence of the small metal grave markers is obvious. Horse whipping whoever stole them would be punishment none too severe.
Also obvious is that several tombstones elsewhere in the cemetery have shifted over the years. They look awkward and don’t represent those meant to honor with the solemn grace they should.
Some (see accompanying photo) I looked at closely are at graves of people who died a century ago. Iola Cemetery also has its share of tilted headstones.
I suppose it’s the responsibility of family to ensure stones that identify who is buried, as well as when they were born and died, remain in good standing. However, for someone who died in 1918, no family may be left hereabouts.
Cemetery workers mow grass and trim around tombstones. I think they, or someone associated with one governmental agency or another, should take time to keep our cemeteries — here and elsewhere — looking neat and leave visitors, who may come only once in a number of years, appreciative of their appearance.
This past week city workers meticulously painted streetlight standards in downtown Iola. Streetlights are city property, tombstones aren’t; not to matter.
Government, I’ve written so often it may be considered a rant by some Register readers, is in place only to do collectively what citizens can’t accomplish individually.
Many citizens care for family tombstones, but some can’t and many graves are old enough no family is left for the task.
A week or two may be required for a team of workers — perhaps some volunteers, as well — to deal with misaligned or broken stones.
I’m betting Sid Fleming, the city administrator, could find time for city employees to accomplish the chore, and it’s also a good bet Scouts (boys or girls) or members of civic groups or who knows who else might step up to give a hand.
It may not be “my job,” but it’s one that needs done — a little cross-training never hurt anyone — and the sooner the better, a sterling way to honor those who have gone before us.
