This mission only applies to those of you near underappreciated cemetaries. In my area, there are many large, old cemetaries, and they're really not appreciated. Nobody leaves flowers on the older graves. The kids go around and bust up the tombstones; they rarely get fixed or have any mind paid to them. Busy streets have been built around them, and there's nobody that really cares. This mission focuses on giving attention to these types of cemetaries.
There are many things you can do to help appreciate the dead when it comes to a graveyard:
Cleaning TombstonesOften, tombstones that aren't visited are very dirty. Sometimes, there is so much dirt, pollen, dust, and moss caked on them that you can't even read what they say. Bring a few towels and some cleaning fluid and clean them up.
Revealing Tombstones In older cemetaries, a lot of tombstones have been half-buried in dirt, covered with leaves, or just are so hidden in the brush that most people don't notice them. Take a small shovel or rounded trowel and remove the dirt that's covering it. Bring sizzors or using your hands to cut/rip any tall grasses around it.
Fixing TombstonesWhen it comes to tombstones, only the person who made it or a professional can really fix it up properly. However, even civilians can line up broken pieces so they can be read. If it is broke in half, lie the broken part down on the ground in front of the part that isn't. If it is a tombstone that originally laid parallel the ground or is one that has been completely broken, put the pieces together. You don't want it to look like
this. Rather, try to keep them as close together as possible so it's more like one cohesive piece. If you're up to it, you may want to use a small shovel/trowel to dig up the area so you can lay it properly in the dirt.
Note: Tombstones are very heavy. They're often made of concrete, stone, or marble - all of which are obnoxiously heavy materials. If you want to be serious about fixing them, you either need to be strong or should bring a friend with you.
Laying FlowersI'm not saying that you should go out and buy twelve dozen roses. However, you can bring a basket or bag and collect wildflowers. Place one on every grave (or rather, as many as you can; some cemetaries are very large). You might want to do this in sections. Mark off areas in your head where you want to place them. Once a week, come back and put flowers on a different area.
Unseen Sections.In cemetaries near areas of woods, there are often older sections partially hidden a bit into the wooded areas. Bring a piece of wood, a long nail, a hammer, and a marker. Leave a sign on a nearby tree that says there are more graves. You might even want to get any large rocks nearby and line a path to the area if it's farther in.
Cleaning UpWhen it comes to underappreciated cemetaries, the owners generally aren't concerned with cleaning up the older parts. If it has snowed, clear out any paths the owner doesn't clear. If fall has taken it's toll, rake the leaves away from the tombs. Pick up any trash you see lying around. If there aren't any trash cans in the actual cemetary, consider talking to the owner and suggesting he/she should get some to avoid littering.
If you decide to do any of these, please
share your story! I'll be doing it soon, as well, and I'll be posting pictures with my progress.
