Letter to the Editor

Bringing back the lights would be nice

Sunday, June 8, 2008

To the Editor:

I recently put four solar lights at the graves of my mother, brother and my baby sister and baby brother.

I was not born when my brother Bruce Jenkins died and I was 10-years-old when my sister Susie died at the age of 4. They are buried at Restlawn Cemetery just north of Hendrix Street.

This night, I went to view the lights that I placed at their graves and I was very upset to find that the graves of my baby sister and baby brother had been victimized!

Their lights have been stolen!

I had just placed these lights not more than two weeks ago and my father was so pleased that their resting places were lit up to remind us that our loved ones were not forgotten. Can you imagine the hurt that we felt at this desecration?

How could anyone steal from the gravesite of two innocent babies just to decorate their lawn? I am a registered nurse who cares for the people in this community and I am aghast at the insensitivity of people who would steal from the graves of babies who did not get a chance in this world to know the love that a family can bring or the joy of just living!

My sister died at the age of 4 and my baby brother died at 6 weeks, but they knew that our family loved them! I only know that the other lights are still there.

My beloved mother died of breast cancer at the age of 62 and my brother died of Cystic Fibrosis at the age of 38. They still have their lights shining.

I thank God for this!

Please honor the graves of those who have left us and let us remember them in our hearts.

Melissa Jones,

Brazil