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For the publisher:
The Westerlo The cemetery is one of the oldest in New York State with burials dating back to 1800. Did you know we have veterans as far back as the War of Independence, through Civil War to conflict the most recent ?
When you walk past Memorial Day or Veterans Day, you see how many of our veterans who fought for our freedom come from here to Westerlo. Not only that, but many families, friends and local neighbors are buried here.
We need your help.
The cemetery has seen a complete change of officers and administrators this year. All of these members are volunteers. In order to honor those who are buried here, and will be in the future, we now need your help in maintaining the cemetery.
The state imposes what can and cannot be done in cemeteries, while offering no help with running costs. The only source of guaranteed income is the interest generated by the permanent investments that the state regulates on the amount of each funeral that must be deposited as such. Everything but $ 50 goes to this fund.
We have an average of eight burials a year. Years ago, with high interest rates, there was a high return on operating costs, but today it is around $ 2,500, which has to cover everything – insurance, fees. ‘Condition, repairs, lawn mowing, pruning, equipment, cemetery backfilling, road care and gas.
The cemetery is approximately seven acres of which three quarters are currently mowed and trimmed. The equipment that the new agents started with this year is in poor condition and needs to be repaired or replaced. Once again, we need your help.
The reality is that if we exhaust all funds and all options, we are forced to turn the cemetery over to the city. The guidelines under which cities are required to take care of cemeteries are neither what we expect to see nor what our deceased family and friends deserve.
Help us maintain our rural and historic cemetery by making a donation today. Your donation is extremely important to the Westerlo Rural Cemetery as it provides resources that have an immediate impact, which will help us through these interesting and difficult times.
All donations are tax deductible and should be sent to “Westerlo Rural Cemetery” and mailed to Westerlo Rural Cemetery, Post Office Box 29, Westerlo, NY 12193. If you would like a receipt, please attach a stamped envelope to your address.
Did you know that you can also remember the cemetery with an endowment or life insurance policy? When making your donation tax deductible, mark it on your calendar to do so annually
Also, did you know that if you have a tombstone on your family land, by law you and your family are responsible for the maintenance of that stone? Many did not know it.
We are planning a fall clean-up day on November 7 from 10 a.m. to noon and we plan to put flags for Veterans Day, then in the spring we will have a clean-up day on April 30, 2016, again from 10 h at noon.
Your whole family is invited! In addition, we need more volunteers to sit on the board. We need you! Please mark your calendar.
To receive email notifications for upcoming meetings and events, please send an email to [email protected] and thank you for identifying yourself.
We plan to do more fundraisers over the next year and hope you will be behind us in our efforts to keep your cemetery going. We plan to put the information about the cemetery tombs online for historians and people logging into their family tree, erect fences, repair abandoned historic stones, plant flowers and trees in strategic areas. and set up boxes for cremation.
We are posting our next meeting on the City of Westerlo website – http://townofwesterlony.com – so please mark it on your calendar and come join us. We are trying for October 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Many thanks to you for taking the time to understand our dilemma, reading our letter, and sending a gift today. Your donation will make all the difference. We promise you.
Betty Filkins, Vice-President
and Steve Peck
Fundraising Committee
Westerlo Rural Cemetery volunteers
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