LETTERS: CEMETERY FLOWERS GONE

To the editor:

In October 1983 our daughter and grandson were killed in a plane crash. They are buried in Russel Heights Cemetery in Jackson. For over 12 years now we have changed flowers on their graves at least three times a year: spring, fall and at Christmas. When we change flowers, we keep the best ones and add to them the next year. As you know, flowers are not cheap, so we do this to help cut down the cost.

On April 2 we went out to change flowers, and all the others had been taken off the graves. I contacted a city official and was told the flowers are taken off all the graves every April 1. For over 12 years they weren't taken off our graves, and as we looked over the cemetery we could see a large number of graves still had flowers on them.

Our flowers were not taken because they were unsightly, because we had just checked them last week. Someone said maybe they were taken off because they were Christmas flowers.

I don't think the city of Jackson or anyone else has a right to tell us what type of flowers to put on our children's graves. Our girl loved Christmas, and if we want Christmas flowers the year around, city officials should not deny us this right.

More of our freedoms are taken away every day. I understand why people are having less trust in our governments.

We bought a very nice headstone that has vases to put flowers in so they wouldn't be on the ground and interfere with mowing. There was no reason to remove these flowers.

The mayor and council should adopt a more fair policy for the cemetery. After all, we do help pay for its upkeep. We feel we are owed an apology.

KENNETH LENNINGTON

Jackson