April 29,2006, became a dark day in my life as I performed one of my favorite civic services; recording GPS locations of lost or almost forgotten grave yards. We had recorded 24 locations in Harris County to insure they would be remembered and not lost again. Most of these grave yards are old 1800’s family graves scattered across the country side; families have died out or like most moved on across this great country as it developed and went westward. GPS gives an exact location that can even be found on maps for use later as families seek history on their ancestors or community groups go about cleaning brush away to renew the site.
So why was this a Dark Day?? After a full day I went by to look again at a location I wrote about on Oct. 10, 2005, it had received some minor damage by the time I had written. It’s the Hutcherson Family Cemetery off Monument Road out of Whitesville, Ga. Well now this shrine left for a loving, caring family to it’s dead love ones has been 75% destroyed by vandals! I couldn't believe how far someone would go to disrespect a families love ones, they didn’t even know. What could this dead family, of the late 1800’s, have done to anyone today to have hate displayed in this revolting way? NOTHING!! Nothing at all……..
The desecration of this grave yard is so bad it can’t be brought back to its past beauty. The 100ft. long wrought iron fence was taken apart, except for a 10ft. piece grown into a large pine tree, has been stolen and hauled off. Household garbage from Lanett, Alabama, as an envelope address reads, now takes it’s place. Old roofing and wood is piled all around the hand cut Granite walls. The polished Marble grave covers and engraved head stones; mentioned in Mrs. Barfield’s book "History of Harris County", have been damaged and broken, even the pine coffins have been busted open and the bones scattered. I was so shocked and devastated at what I saw, I couldn’t understand why anyone would ever cause this kind of damage and destruction to a resting place of the dead. TOTAL DESRESPECT! The last thing that caught my eye as I turned to leave was a piece of a marble headstone that said " to my darling wife Rest in Peace". I turned and left!
As I talked with Law Enforcement, about the damage, a few questions were raised that helped me understand who didn’t do it. There were no Satanic markings panted on the stones, but no I didn’t look for sculls. Gold and money were never buried with the dead in 99% of deaths. Even though Law Enforcement officers are a caring group, they have enough trouble protecting the living and little time to watch the graveyards County wide; but they do have a graveyard shift. (Ha-Ha)
As I start to put away the soap box I climbed up on, these were the things in my mind that I think need to be corrected to change this Country back to a love all, help all, respect all America!! Put prayer back in school; God is not a four letter word but leads to one GOOD, we need to get our government back to where the silent majority gets out and votes and speaks out, not sit silently by. We are to be ruled by a Majority. 25% to 30% of our population vote! Teach your kids respect at home while young, the schools can’t. I remember when cow boy guns were taken away because of teaching kids that gun don’t kill if pointed at someone, because the cow boy will get back up next show. Now with computer games and X box you can kill all kinds of ways, guns, swords, and car bombs ect.! Go back to entertaining your family in board games, for learning and time together. Cut back on time alone, TV, and go out together as a family. Entertainment for your family isn’t necessary 24hrs. a day. Let them learn love and family, as well as RESPECT by seeing it from you at home!
I will be back to my normal self and park my soapbox E- mail me if you have any concerns or answers on my topic today. Thanks Ron
Visit my site on columbusgaonline.com and web page search memories of Whitesville,Ga.
Thanks for reading. May God Bless You! Ron Rollins
Chiefnw1@peoplepc.com
Thanks Ron Rollins
Ronald J. Rollins > Disrespect for all Mankind