Clean-up day at Manteca’s historic East Union Cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day ceremonies will take place Saturday, April 24.
Some members of the Morning Rotary Club as well as the American Legion in Manteca have already pledged to be there that day to help, said Evelyn Prouty, Manteca Historical Society and Museum’s director who has been helping oversee the cemetery’s maintenance for the last two years.
But they would like to see other volunteers to come and help especially with the weed-eating, she said. The more helping hands they get, the sooner the job can be done, too, she added. The clean-up detail will start at 9 a.m. “till (the workers) get tired,” she said.
Those who want to come and help in the weed-eating chore are asked to bring their own gas-powered tools. “The cemetery will provide gas, if necessary,” Prouty said.
The Manteca morning Rotary became involved when Prouty, who is one of those inducted in the Manteca Hall of Fame this year, was invited as a guest speaker at the club’s recent meeting. While at the meeting, she learned that the service group is looking for a community project as part of the International Rotary Community Service Day. “And I said, come with me,” said Prouty laughing.
Since they have already sprayed Roundup around the fences, the only areas that will require weed-eating will be around the headstones. Prouty said they don’t want to apply Roundup here because the chemical will discolor or eat away the lime in the headstones. The brass headstones, for example, will turn white when sprayed with Roundup.
The Friends of the East Union Cemetery will barbecue hotdogs during lunch for the volunteers, and will provide bottled water also.
The cemetery will have a new flag unfurled for Memorial Day as well, courtesy of the American Legion in Manteca.
Those who wish to come and help in the cemetery clean-up can call Bill Good at (209) 390-2700 for more information. Anyone wishing to donate for the continuing upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery where many area pioneers and mover and shakers are buried can write a check to: Friends of the Cemetery, 1035 North Union Road, Manteca, CA 95336.
Some members of the Morning Rotary Club as well as the American Legion in Manteca have already pledged to be there that day to help, said Evelyn Prouty, Manteca Historical Society and Museum’s director who has been helping oversee the cemetery’s maintenance for the last two years.
But they would like to see other volunteers to come and help especially with the weed-eating, she said. The more helping hands they get, the sooner the job can be done, too, she added. The clean-up detail will start at 9 a.m. “till (the workers) get tired,” she said.
Those who want to come and help in the weed-eating chore are asked to bring their own gas-powered tools. “The cemetery will provide gas, if necessary,” Prouty said.
The Manteca morning Rotary became involved when Prouty, who is one of those inducted in the Manteca Hall of Fame this year, was invited as a guest speaker at the club’s recent meeting. While at the meeting, she learned that the service group is looking for a community project as part of the International Rotary Community Service Day. “And I said, come with me,” said Prouty laughing.
Since they have already sprayed Roundup around the fences, the only areas that will require weed-eating will be around the headstones. Prouty said they don’t want to apply Roundup here because the chemical will discolor or eat away the lime in the headstones. The brass headstones, for example, will turn white when sprayed with Roundup.
The Friends of the East Union Cemetery will barbecue hotdogs during lunch for the volunteers, and will provide bottled water also.
The cemetery will have a new flag unfurled for Memorial Day as well, courtesy of the American Legion in Manteca.
Those who wish to come and help in the cemetery clean-up can call Bill Good at (209) 390-2700 for more information. Anyone wishing to donate for the continuing upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery where many area pioneers and mover and shakers are buried can write a check to: Friends of the Cemetery, 1035 North Union Road, Manteca, CA 95336.
