Memorial Day service held at Waggoner Cemetery
Michelle Carpenter, from Friends of Waggoner Cemetery, welcomed everyone to the Memorial Day Service held at the cemetery on May 15. (Jen Jones)
Michelle Carpenter has six generations of her family buried in Waggoner Cemetery. Philip Waggoner was buried there in 1811. “It is one of the oldest cemeteries in the county,” said Carpenter.
Carpenter is a member of Friends of Waggoner Cemetery and welcomed the small crowd to the Memorial Day service. “We have kept our service on the third Saturday in May. It’s Armed Forces Day and there are always so many services on Memorial Day that it was hard for everyone to visit them all.”
She said she feels Memorial Day services are important because everyone needs to remember the veterans who served our country. “Cleaning up and visiting cemeteries was always part of my growing up. My parents took me to clean and decorate graves.”
This service was very personal for Carpenter as she lost her brother, Don Carpenter, earlier this year due to COVID. “He was a big part of the community. He was an EMT, a fireman and very active in the Elks.” Michelle read the names of the veterans in the cemetery – her brother’s was the last one added.
The Newcomerstown Veteran’s Organization provided the gun salute and played taps after the names of the veterans were read and a wreath was laid in the cemetery by Carpenter and Doug Wills, guest speaker.
“People need to remember and honor our veterans,” said Carpenter. “They need to find things that need done and take care of it. It’s to everyone’s benefit when things are taken care of.”
Category: People & Places
