Support friends of Town of Bedford Cemeteries

Thursday, December 1, 2011

To the Editor:

It takes only a stroll through one of Bedford’s quiet historic cemeteries to turn tension into contemplation of history and life. The patriot rests beside the pitiful, the peasant by the powerful and the preacher sleeps near the profane. Their moments of shame and cowardice, of courage and valor, of love and success and loss all slumber under beautifully carved granite or slate or marble. They are gone and yet they are here, in the story of every person. The headstones, with their wonderful carvings and poetic inscriptions were intended for you and future generations to pause, to refresh and reflect.

Nature, pollution and time can savage the old slate and marble and granite, eroding and destroying their beautiful, tender artwork. The Friends of Town of Bedford Cemeteries is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization working with the town to maintain and restore our historic gravestones and to promote public awareness of these treasures. In addition to gravestone repair, we provide a newsletter, Bedford Cemetery Views, and conduct activities such as gravestone cleaning and tours, sponsorship of the Strawberry Festival and evening educational programs.

All of our activities are privately funded, primarily though membership and we are about to launch our annual membership drive. To encourage more Bedford residents to join our organization, we have kept membership fees low; just $10 per year for a family. We also have a class of annual membership called “Restorer” for $25 per family.

Won’t you help preserve these voices from our past, these little pieces of stone that say so much by renewing or becoming a member? Our membership forms can be downloaded at www.bedfordcemeteries.org (click on the Friends of Town of Bedford Cemeteries link). Please mail your completed form with your membership contribution to Friends of Town of Bedford Cemeteries, 24 North Amherst Road, Bedford, NH 03110, or just pick up a form and provide the membership contribution at the Town Hall.

JOHN WOOD

Chairman, Friends of Town of Bedford Cemeteries