Masons clean up cemetery grounds
Frank DeCarlo and Jim Killinger work to clean a section of the Oak Grove Cemetery and place a veterans flag
Frank DeCarlo (left) and Thomas Gower work to clean a section of the Oak Grove Cemetary
Madison Adkison cools off after working to pull dandelions at the Oak Grove Cemetary
Phil Verbus works to trim around tombstones the Oak Grove Cemetary
?Tom Gower said he couldn鈥檛 believe what he saw when he recently drove past Oak Grove Cemetery in Uniontown.
鈥淚 was driving into town and looked over at the cemetery and I noticed how bad of shape everything was in,鈥� said Gower, worshipful master of Masonic Lodge 228 in Uniontown. 鈥淚 thought to myself, a cemetery shouldn鈥檛 look like this, especially coming right into town.鈥�
So, volunteers from Fayette Lodge 228 have joined Gower in an effort to clean up the area around the grave sites. Gower and his group will spend many weekends this summer cutting grass, getting the grave stones reset and cutting down dead trees.
Gower was inspired to take on the project from the late John Irons, who petitioned the Grand Lodge in 1848 to start Fayette Lodge 228 and was the first worshipful master of the lodge. In 1912, the trustees of Lodge 228 bought a lot at Oak Grove Cemetery and erected a monument for Irons.
鈥淗is last wish before he died was to maintain this lot every year,鈥� said Gower.
鈥淪o I think it is only right to respect that wish.鈥�
Irons is one of six former Masons to be buried at Oak Grove and current members of Lodge 228 feel the need to take care of the people who have gone before them, Gower said.
鈥淧ersonally, I think it蘑菇视频 something that needs to be done,鈥� said Bruce Manko, treasurer of Fayette Lodge 228. 鈥淲e should be proud to take care of the Masons who shouldn鈥檛 be forgotten.鈥�
Lodge 228 member James Burkholder said as a Mason he feels that he and his fellow members need to set a good example for others.
鈥淚f nobody cares, then how will we set an example for the rest of the world?鈥� he asked.
鈥淏y taking care of those who have gone before us, it gives me a feeling of goodness and respect.鈥�
Fayette Lodge 228 has about 270 members and Gower hopes that with teamwork, they can have the biggest part of the cemetery cleaned up and looking much better by Labor Day.
鈥淚t depends how many people we can get to help out each weekend,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut, with a lot of help, I believe we can make this cemetery beautiful for the people driving by to notice.鈥�
Gower and his father, Charles, own Gower Excavation Co. in Smithfield, and they will be bringing in their equipment to help with the project.
Gower noted that a committee was formed in April to try and establish a board to maintain the graves at the cemetery.
鈥淎s Masons, we always try to help the community,鈥� said Gower. 鈥淲e all try to pitch in and do what we can.鈥�
Manko noted that the members of Lodge 228 are inspired to undertake the project by one line in the closing of the Masons charge, which states: 鈥淒o good unto all, while we recommend it more, especially to those who are of the household of the faithful.鈥�