The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-09-13
KEEPING FAITH WITH THE DEAD.

Just how far should public go toward upkeep of
that has arisen the town of Behaven but
is of interest communities March 1949 the late
Fred Latham pioneer citizen noted for his phanthropy
appeard before the Belhaven Town Board with proposal
for cemetery. He said that now that many of
getting old wish to home SOIL rather than
H carried distant communities as now being done in
many places wish to donate to the town of Behaven
suitable site for community cemetery was moved by
Alderman A. L. Gaylord seconded by r. D. Wlndley' tna5
for the property and put under the of Board
of Trustees The cemetery began to be used and
the donor and his wife both in it.
There doubt expressed the part OF some
of the officials that is not right to the taxpayers
money keep this cemetery Some believe that to keep
up the cemetery would all cemeteries must be kept
Conditions somtmes alter however and people
property it is clearly the towns duty to maintain it. Legal
it usually happens that when there is sufficient sen
ment for thing to be done way will be found to do It.
Surely there is sufficient pride and resourceuness among
$500 people to find way about this situation that is
menSurate with the community'S self-respect.
Now that the question has up is that might
be well considered by other towns in this region This is
own buryng ground they couldn't leave the land and gen
Grafton after generation found their last rest in their home
ed and gone far from home Some Of them have died off Our
countryside is dotted with graveyards many of which will
be unless brush fire burns off the weeds and
bushes.
Now the time is coming when nobody can be found to
go out and clear off the woods to make for
grave People must be buried however and unless there
cemetery maintained in manner the finding of suf
Gent grave sites become difficult to suitably dispose
of the dead
We have often wondered why so many people apparent
y have little for their dead lack pride their
ancestry and dearth of appreciation for the benefits,
tal and otherwise that they have enjoyed from the bounty
OF those whose graves they neglect We have noted many
men of means who have toward keeping
clean their parents graves not speaking of failure pro-
vide even the least expensive of markers We have noted
many people who contribute anything labor or
money toward keeping decent the appearance of
terry In which all their ancestors bones are resting
People who have pride in ancestry may be that
way because their ancestors didn't merit pride They just
got that way somewhere along the line perhaps People
VINO aren't generous enough to wish to contribute to re-
spectacle for the graves their departed have
sa nd @ Of something most important Respect
its rich heritage that benefits all should rouse us to the
desire to keep faith with dead the age which they
valuable indeed - ~
we cannot think of nation that ever great that
pde ana reverence and appreciation for it's dead
lost these attributes began declining and continued to de-
cne AS Always there must be the few who will carry the
load Tor the many and perhaps cemetery Situation
throughout the land will resolve into another such situation
do the Job - "-oAo VIII