Cemetery deserves honor, respect

To the editor:

Old Lorimier Cemetery is a remarkable historic document recording the establishment of our community. A person can read a book about the history of the town they live in, but nothing compares to walking through a historic cemetery and being able to read the sentimental testimonies of friendship and love through the iconography created by those who lost a loved one. While walking through Old Lorimier Cemetery, people have the chance to view the remembrances of lives of individuals that did not make it into the history books. Old Lorimier Cemetery gives a valuable insight to the history of Cape Girardeau, the people of Cape Girardeau and how society's values, morals and traditions have changed from decade to decade.

Old Lorimier Cemetery deserves to be at its best at all times. It does not deserve to suffer at the hands of vandals. Nowhere else in Cape Girardeau is there such an incredible, rich and diverse history of our community. The cemetery should not be subjected to the destructive recreational behavior of vandals who have such despicable lack of respect for those who are buried there and for their family members that are still living.

The iconography and the history of Old Lorimier Cemetery is so incredibly significant to Cape Girardeau that the federal government has recognized its importance of its history and has honored the city by placing the cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places. The community needs to treat it with the honor and respect it deserves.

TERRI FOLEY, Historic Preservationist, Cape Girardeau