CREST HAVEN – The Herald recently heard from a 96-year-old World War II veteran, whose name the newspaper is withholding, who visited his wife’s grave at the Cape May County Veterans Cemetery and found it “covered by weeds and thickets.” He could barely find her marker.
He claimed it was “completely in disarray.” He called the county Veterans Bureau and the county in an attempt to learn when the cemetery would be attended to. All other sections, he was told, were in the process of being upgraded section by section.
The Herald toured the entire cemetery June 14. There were American flags on each grave, regardless of its location. The county embarked on a project to upgrade the cemetery’s condition. Sections that have been revamped have markers that are above ground and uniform. Other sections had tall grass growing around the markers.
Facilities and Services Director AnnMarie McMahon, whose department is tasked with performing the upgrade, replied:
“We just completed sections A and B. We plan to go to “J” section next rather than work in the oldest sections first.
“I’m hopeful that (the veteran) liked the look of the newly “remodeled” sections A and B.
“We solicited applications from veterans to work in the cemetery doing the work and only received one application. That veteran started his position June 16, which is strictly to work on the sections in the cemetery.
“I’m hopeful we will progress at a faster pace, but unfortunately, my staff has all of the other county buildings to maintain so they fit it in when they can. It’s a rather large undertaking as the masons are involved because we have to re-pour each and every concrete (marker) base because they were so inconsistently made in the past.
“Since we’re raising them above the ground and making them level, they need to be consistent. I apologize for the delay in getting this done, but it’s been 30 years of disarray that we’re trying to fix.
“I will definitely have my staff research the location in question and pay more attention to it.”
Avalon – This economy is tough for everyone. Think I might have to sell my beach house! A good problem, but still forced.
