Boy Scouts Lend Highlands Cemetery a Helping Hand

Highlands Cemetery has stood for ages as one of Sparta’s most well-known cemeteries. Hundreds of families have had loved ones buried there, yet at times, it can be difficult to upkeep such a large area alone. To help out, some Boy Scouts swung down on May 16 to both clean up some of the worn-down gravestones, as well as retire the old flag waving high above the cemetery.

Denny Mitchell with Highlands Cemetery knew it could be a great event for both parties. The Cemetery can often struggle to keep up with cleaning all the sites alone. As a nonprofit organization, they only have so many resources and manpower.

“You know, I felt like it was the perfect kind of thing for the boys to do, too,” said Mitchell. “It gives them an opportunity to do something real good, and it helps us out a lot too. I know we really, really appreciate any help we get out here.”

Boy Scouts came in waves throughout the day, like taking shifts, to help clean up. The five present early in the morning had already made some good progress on a handful of the sites. With some of the grime and dirt on these stones, they can at times even be hard to read. But after a good few hours of work from the Scouts, that was fixed up quickly.

The young lads not only help clean up the graves, but they also help with another aspect of care. The flag waving high over Highlands Cemetery was getting quite old, with visible tatters on the end of it. Together, the five Scouts there in the morning retired the old flag and raised a new one. The retired flag was sent off properly, and the Cemetery was proud to see a brand new one waving high.

Highlands Cemetery is a nonprofit, and Denny Mitchell says they are always happy to accept help, volunteers, or donations in any way the community can provide. The Boy Scouts, however, have lent their service in a way that can benefit the Cemetery and those remembered there for ages.