March 19, 2024

Union Cemetery is well maintained

I just finished reading the editorial in Friday’s Newton Daily News urging the city to make cemetery maintenance a priority. My husband and I walk at Newton Union Cemetery every day that weather permits. I can only speak for that cemetery, but I have to say we never see a lack of maintenance or care in the cemetery and certainly nothing that would show disrespect to the veterans or anyone else who is buried there. Yes, dandelions are rampant there at the moment, and they are unsightly, but so are they rampant everywhere. It’s that time of year. This time of tall dandelion stems that seem to shoot up almost over night, and their fluffy white seed heads, is a relatively short period of time in the spring. Soon they will quit blooming so profusely, and will blend in with the grass cover. Meanwhile, we are encouraged to refrain from chemically treating them, as they are early food for bees, whose numbers are dwindling.

As far as general care and maintenance of the cemetery, every weekday when we walk we see  workers mowing and trimming. To say trimming is not a priority is incorrect. It is a constant process that goes on during spring, summer and fall. Grass around each stone is trimmed with a weed-eater. Trees and bushes are trimmed or removed when needed. After a storm, we see brush gathered into piles and then carried away. We also see the care that is taken with the tending of each new grave.

The paper mentions upcoming events that will draw people to the cemetery and says, “What they discover during their visit is a reflection of the city.” This coming Memorial weekend, I’m positive those who visit Newton Union Cemetery will discover a neatly mowed and trimmed, well cared for cemetery, one of which the city may rightfully be proud. I’m sorry that the Veterans Affairs Commission feels the veterans are being disrespected. As one who sees the cemetery daily, I respectfully disagree.

Pamela Andrews

Newton