Keep the cemeteries sacred

         (RLNN) - Every time I visit one of the local cemeteries to bring back the memory of a relative or friend, it is pleasing to see how so many people take care of the final resting places of their loved ones. Some go to great expense, as well as considerable time and effort, with flowers in flowerpots, fences, wooden shelters, benches and numerous other manners of decor that show respect to the place their loved ones lie.

         But it goes beyond respect, I think. We respect, but we also cherish and miss them, and in many ways visiting their resting place is a way to honor them for who they were and what they meant to us all–and what they still mean to us.

         You see a name on a tombstone and if you knew the person even just a little, you remembered them. You see someone’s name who you knew very well, and all of a sudden you see them inside your mind just as you had when they were alive.

         The only thing that takes something away from such a pleasurable memory, is when you see some type of desecration to a grave site. Yes, sometimes the elements will cause some desecrations of their own, or some type of animal or bird, but that is understandable. What isn’t understandable, is when someone desecrates a grave site intentionally–or accidentally and doesn’t care enough to at try to rectify the situation.

         But how can anyone desecrate a grave? And for what purpose? Would such a person or persons know that the deceased cannot be hurt in such a way, and the only ones it affects are those of us still living?

         Then again, maybe that’s why some people do what they do, right?

         And what about stealing things from one grave and putting them on another, or outright just taking items home or going out and trying to sell what they stole.

         It’s probably a good thing tombstones weigh as much as they do, otherwise some people would be trying to take those down to Busy Corner to try and pawn or sell.

         Who does these kinds of things?

         Your guess is probably as good as mine, and more than likely, the only ones who know about it, are the ones doing it. I think Red Lake has enough problems without having to worry about the places where their loved ones rest,. I also don’t think any of us are so poor that we’d have to resort to grave robbing as a means of survival.

         Whoever is doing this type of thing, there has to be something better to do to occupy your time. And if it has something to do with devil worshiping or trying to be gothic or something, desecrating a grave for sure isn’t going to get you any closer to either.