To the Editor:

In response to “Many Shocked About Cemetery Cleanup” which appeared in the May 25-31 issue of North Country This Week, I wish to express my feelings about this subject.

My wife and I moved from southeastern Dutchess County to Potsdam in 2008 to be closer to our daughter and her family. It was a big move for us, leaving behind dear lifelong friends.

We are not members of the Roman Catholic Church, but are Christian followers in faith. When my daughter called and told me about Saint Mary’s Cemetery current situation, I had to go there to see for myself.

My son-in-law’s parents are buried there, as is his nephew, Stevie Bartlett, who recently passed. To say the least, my wife and I were appalled at what we saw. Floral, forever-lights, American and service flags, military plaques and ornamentations of religious figurines (angels, lambs, Jesus, etc.) thrown and strewn on the ground, with no respect or regard of their owners and/or survivor(s).

I want to emphasize this to those responsible of such atrocities to the final resting places of those which lie within. Losing a loved one is horrific at best. For the survivor(s) consolation of such lose is softened by the planting of flowers, small shrubs, decorating the headstone and/or grave sight, even little trinkets that brings comfort to a grieving soul. All things possible, brings ease of pain and lose to the survivor(s) of the deceased.

I put before you this question. “What Would Jesus Do?” Would Jesus approve of his church’s degree to remove such items of peace, compassion and emotional comfort from the living to those who now are at his care in death? Would Jesus clean out a cemetery in his Name, for a church’s sake because a few want stability of the cemetery? I doubt it!

As far as ownership of a cemetery plot. The plot I own downstate is mine, not any church. The cost included everlasting care and as likewise for my parents and siblings, what is planted or put on the grave sight, is up to the owner or heir to determine and is passed from generation to generation if so needed. The cemetery association maintains the grooming of the lawn grass.

I sympathize with those who are upset with the decision Saint Mary’s Church made. This shouldn’t have had to happen. For Christ’s Sake, (and I mean that compassionately) I pray this dilemma be resolved amicably.

Henry Wallis Walters

Potsdam