Memorial Day 2008

We made our traditional visits to Steve's father's gravesite on Sunday. It was a beautiful day. Steve shared a few nice memories of his father and left an American flag and a message thanking him for his many years of service to our country. Steve's father worked in Homeland Security for several years monitoring Russian and Cuban messages sent over the radio signals.

Monday was a cool, rainy day. We got up late hoping the clouds would move out and then went up to Heber to the cemetery. I was a little more prepared than usual with specific grave sites that I would be hunting for besides visiting my sister's graves and decorating them and Grandpa and Grandma Lindsay's and Uncle Alan who died in WWII. I have been researching our pioneer ancestors because Marie, Steve and I will be participating in a pioneer handcart trek in a few weeks. We have chosen names of our ancestors who were in the Martin and Willie Handcart companies. As I learned more about them, I learned more about our other ancestors who also crossed the plains during 1847 and 1868. There are many on both sides and many great stories. We found the headstone of George Hyrum Sweat who crossed the plains when he was 23 years old in 1850. He married our great-great grandmother Julia Emeline Meacham Sweat when she was 17 years old. He also had another wife, Lovina Cluff and the three of them are buried in the same plot. This plot is near James and Agnes Watson Lindsay resting place. They are Grandma Doris Parker's grandparents! They were also pioneers who crossed the plains. James Lindsay was only 13 when he crossed the plains in 1862.

I learned that Heber has/had a pioneer cemetery. The church on Mill road has a stone marker that directs you to where the pioneer cemetery is supposed to be. I understand that our pioneer ancestors, Jonathan and Ellen Clegg were buried in this cemetery. We followed the directions and found nothing. Then we decided to go to the old church on Mill road that has now been turned into a house. There on the corner of the property is another even larger marker telling about the pioneer cemetery. We followed the directions and found nothing. Steve finally decided to ask the neighbors if they knew anything. A lady told him that the graveyard is now a subdivision and that the big sandstone marker at the old church-turned-house is now the "remembrance" for the pioneer cemetery. It makes me wonder what they did with the old gravesites.

I am grateful for my family who served our nation. I am grateful for my ancestors who accepted the gospel and decided to come West and live with others of the same beliefs. We have a great and honored heritage. I hope you enjoy the pictures of our day.

Lori