Evergreen Cemetery: ‘I call it my park’

Letter to the editor:

I live on Cramer Street near the Robert Street entrance to Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Atkinson.

I feel very fortunate to live near the cemetery. I walk for exercise in Evergreen Cemetery most every day all year around. I see and enjoy all of God’s creations in Evergreen Cemetery, including all the beautiful trees, flowers and wildlife.

I call it my park. And now my park even has bluebird houses that will encourage even more birds to inhabit this beautiful place.

The markers in the cemetery represent and remind me of all the local history that has taken place since this community began back in the 1830s. 

My park is very well cared for by Neal Traeder, Raughn Ferrell, Brad Wilcox and many volunteers. Being a retired groundskeeper, preventative maintenance man and mechanic at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Madison, I know what it takes to care for equipment, lawns, flowers and trees. It is obvious that the people who take care of Evergreen Cemetery take great pride in maintaining this wonderful place.

Also, having retired and having been a veteran of the armed forces for 22 years, I am deeply touched by the Soldiers Circle, with its beautiful monuments and granite reflection benches. I love walking by the belltower and the Court of Honor, where the flags representing the United States, POWs and every branch of the military service are on display. I love all the flowers planted around the belltower, the Memorial Court in the Soldiers Circle and at the entrances.

I love walking past the historic cottage near the front entrance to the cemetery, and now the people named above have cleaned and painted the inside of the cottage that is reminiscent of an earlier time period and which will serve as a museum for the cemetery.

And finally, as a proud veteran of the armed services, I love to salute the large American flag that guards the Robert Street entrance and which, during the summer, is surrounded by beautiful flowers.

And then I fondly leave my park and head for home and look forward to my next visit.

I do wonder who will replace the people who presently are in charge of the cemetery when they retire. It will be a task to find people who will exhibit the kind of care, dedication, skill and pride that the present managers have.

But in the meantime, I appreciate what a wonderful place Evergreen Cemetery is to visit and enjoy.

Roland Carothers

Fort Atkinson