This last Memorial Day we visited the Salt Lake City Cemetery where Ken's sister is buried. We love this cemetery with its rich pioneer history, including several of Ken's pioneer ancestors. During this visit we were dismayed to find the pioneer headstone of his great-great grandmother had sunk on one corner and was tipping at a dangerous angle. A small crack was already forming where the pressure on the stone was the greatest. We couldn't bear to think of seeing it break as so many pioneer stones have done, so when we got home Ken made a few calls. Today we met again at the cemetery and with the help of Keith, several cousins and plenty of shovels and crowbars, it is now ready to stand another hundred years!
The cement base went a lot deeper than we anticipated - at least 12 inches!
Filling the sink hole with dirt and gravel
Leveling the stone and tamping down the dirt
Many hands make light work!
Chase (Roy's grandson), Keith, Ken, Roy, Wayne, Val and Paul
Chase (Roy's grandson), Keith, Ken, Roy, Wayne, Val and Paul
Sarah Hyde Barnes
Wife of Matthew Barnes
May 29, 1821 - October 16, 1888
We have such a legacy in the heritage of those who have gone before. In speaking of the faith of our pioneer forbearers, President Gordon B. Hinckley said:
"Why did they do it? They did it because of their faith. They counted the costs. They knew they would be heavy. They knew they were facing extreme hazards. . . . They knew that many of them would die along the way. More than 4,000 of them did die; [giving] their lives as a testimony of their belief in the cause which they had undertaken."
May we never forget the faith and strength of those who paved the way for each of us.
Lots of love to you all!
May we never forget the faith and strength of those who paved the way for each of us.
Lots of love to you all!
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3 comments:
I love my pioneer/not-so-pioneer heritage. And I love cemeteries. (My daughter-in-law thinks I'm crazy.) It is good to see what you did to preserve this headstone.
About three years ago I visited the Payson cemetery and found the headstone of a great-great grandfather that had broken in half. I wrote to all my aunts and uncles, asking if they thought we should collect money from the extended family to make repairs. My rich uncle took it upon himself to find and fix and he and a friend took care of it. I was ever so grateful. I always wondered when, why, and how this grandpa came to Utah. It was his headstone that told the story. He came with Johnston's Army! That is one story that was worth preserving.
Ken has a Johnston's Army ancestor. Maybe they knew each other! :-)
this is so cool. I got teary eyed!
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