The Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery
The concept of heroism is something I think has become distorted and remote in our time. The current trend in popular media is to associate the term with superpowers and incredible feats more in line with Greek demigods than things normal humans could accomplish. By setting the standard higher than mortals can ever realistically reach, being a 'hero' becomes the job of someone else as does fixing the problems in our communities that seem overwhelming, and our cynicism towards actual humans who lead us deepens.
It might seem like an exaggeration, then, to call the act of rallying a community together to clean up a graveyard long neglected by a defunct trust 'heroism', but I'd have to say that the Friends of Mount Moriah are what I think real life heroes are. They've taken a place that was dangerous and uninviting and are turning it into an inspiring lesson in civic action for students and a place where, no matter who you are, if you want to come help out they will find out what best suits your abilities and make you a part. Seeing people of all ages, races, and backgrounds working together with mutual respect and acceptance toward a shared goal of fixing a problem they could have just as easily ignored makes me feel better about the world I live in, in a way that I desperately need sometimes.
When asked why he does it, the Friends' treasurer Ken Smith said: "When a section is being cleared it feels as if those interred there are no longer forgotten and it’s a way of bringing back dignity to them along with their family." Stories like the one where the Friends found a plot for a family in Texas, fixed the headstones, and cleared the roads to it, and placed flowers there for when they visited, are more common than not.
I really admire the people who are involved: Paulette, Donna, Ed, Bill, Jenn, Ken, and so many others. So often we tell ourselves places are lost so we don't have to go out and fight for them; it's reassuring to me to know that there are people who are finding places like these in their own areas to reclaim for the public good and make the world a better place in the process.
To support the Friends' effort or join them visit their Facebook page or Website.
To view more of this site click on an image in the gallery below; use arrow keys to navigate.
It might seem like an exaggeration, then, to call the act of rallying a community together to clean up a graveyard long neglected by a defunct trust 'heroism', but I'd have to say that the Friends of Mount Moriah are what I think real life heroes are. They've taken a place that was dangerous and uninviting and are turning it into an inspiring lesson in civic action for students and a place where, no matter who you are, if you want to come help out they will find out what best suits your abilities and make you a part. Seeing people of all ages, races, and backgrounds working together with mutual respect and acceptance toward a shared goal of fixing a problem they could have just as easily ignored makes me feel better about the world I live in, in a way that I desperately need sometimes.
When asked why he does it, the Friends' treasurer Ken Smith said: "When a section is being cleared it feels as if those interred there are no longer forgotten and it’s a way of bringing back dignity to them along with their family." Stories like the one where the Friends found a plot for a family in Texas, fixed the headstones, and cleared the roads to it, and placed flowers there for when they visited, are more common than not.
I really admire the people who are involved: Paulette, Donna, Ed, Bill, Jenn, Ken, and so many others. So often we tell ourselves places are lost so we don't have to go out and fight for them; it's reassuring to me to know that there are people who are finding places like these in their own areas to reclaim for the public good and make the world a better place in the process.
To support the Friends' effort or join them visit their Facebook page or Website.
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