September 12, 2024

9/11 with Quincy National Cemetery service project

Quincy Herald-Whig

By: Daniel Bethers

QUINCY — Quincy commemorated 9/11 on Wednesday, remembering the thousands —343 first responders — who lost their lives.

A brief ceremony was held at the 9/11 monument in front of City Hall in remembrance of the victims.

In parallel remembrance of loss and those who served their country, volunteers headed to Quincy National Cemetery directly following the ceremony to pay their respects to the veterans interned there and perform maintenance as a service to those who live on and remember through the facility.

“It was solemn and it was an honor,” said Barbara Fletcher, who served as a sergeant E-5 in Germany for 13 years. “It is always my privilege to honor anybody who serves. First responders are out there offering and giving their lives in service to their community, just as us veterans serve our country. It’s a big brotherhood and we have a lot of affinity for first responders, many of whom are veterans themselves.”

According to Keokuk National Cemetery Caretaker and Supervisor Brent Inskeep, the Quincy National Cemetery originated as a Civil War-era soldier’s lot in Woodland Cemetery. Burials began as early as 1861 but it wasn’t until 1882 that it was officially recognized as national cemetery.

The headstone cleaning was organized by Carry the Load, a national organization dedicated to restoring the meaning of Memorial Day and other patriotic holidays.

“There were probably about a dozen volunteers … cleaning the headstones,” Fletcher said. “We were provided with cleaning supplies. The headstones there are beautiful white marble and it was a privilege to make sure they stay beautiful, white and presentable.”

The headstones date to the spring 1882 when they were issued by the government for the 221 Union soldiers in the lot.

No clear explanation is known, but in 1899 all 300 soldier remains were relocated to their current resting place in Graceland Cemetery off Maine Street, minus some commemorative Civil War munitions and guns. With time, the rest of the cemetery was redeveloped, giving what is now the Quincy National Cemetery.

“Even though it is a smaller cemetery closed to first interments, visitors still come out and show support for relatives, friends — even some that have nobody interred at the cemetery,” Inskeep said. “The opportunity to walk the hallowed grounds and learn about the history of the cemetery while (enjoying) the pristine upkeep of the cemetery shows the local community the pride the employees of the National Cemetery Administration take in caring for our veterans’ and their families’ final resting place … by volunteering their time and energy, (residents) help keep alive the memory not just of the victims of September 11th, but of the countless men and women who served in our Armed Forces or as first responders before and after that fateful day.”

After the cleaning, a free lunch was offered at the American Legion Post 37 for participants and first responders.

“I definitely agree with veterans paralleling what they’ve done with first responders,” said Quincy Police Department Detective Sgt. Adam Gibson. “Many of us made sacrifices. It’s nice to be honored, although most of us don’t do the job to be honored. We understand doing the job — it’s a thankless job (but) we still continue to move forward.”

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9/11 with Quincy National Cemetery service project

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