More than 9,000 gravesites and headstones at Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City were cleaned of weeds and debris Saturday morning by an army of well over 100 volunteers made up of students, seniors and families, local civic organizations and youth groups.
The Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department, as part of the national “Move with the Mayor” initiative, hosted the 4th annual volunteer clean-up day. And by all measures, it may be the largest one thus far, said Carson City Mayor Lori Bagwell.
Erin Larsen, Carson City’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Volunteer Coordinator, encouraged volunteers to work in teams throughout the 40-acre cemetery, which is home to more than 9,000 individuals and loved ones, with some headstones dating back to the 1860s.
A Carson City Public Works open bed truck was there to haul the waste.
The “Move with the Mayor” initiative is a national campaign developed by the Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, which encourages people to live active, healthy lifestyles.
“When I look out across this and see all the different age ranges, all the different abilities, I am just eternally grateful to live here in Carson City because whenever we have a need, you come out and help,” said Mayor Bagwell told volunteers armed with rakes and buckets ahead of the cleanup. “And who could we help more than someone who doesn’t have family left to care for their graves. That’s why, years ago, I selected this particular facility for us to do because, as you will see doing the graves, some of them have been gone for a long time and there isn’t anyone left to do this for them.”
Bagwell also reminded volunteers of the Wreaths Across America event in December. There are around 2,000 veterans where volunteers put wreaths across their graves.
Wreaths Across America is a special day to honor veterans in all 50 states and overseas and remind the nation of their sacrifices during both peacetime and at war.
Each December, the national non-profit organization coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as more than 1,200 locations across the U.S., (including Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City) at sea and abroad. Numerous volunteers of all ages placed wreaths on veterans’ graves, thanking them for their service with a salute and moment of silence.
