GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — An Army Veteran is continuing to help honor some of Michigan's fallen soldiers.
Burke says he noticed the grass growing over the headstones in the past weeks, and he wanted to do something about it.
On Wednesday, Jim Burke organized a cleanup at the Veteran's Cemetery at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.
"There`s still room for a whole lot more people," Burke said Wednesday, when a group of people sharing the same sentiments came out to help in the clean up.
Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the two groundskeepers are only working part time. With the rest of the campus to take care of, they cannot keep up with the mowing and grass trimming needed in the cemetery.
Another cleanup is planned next week Wednesday from 8 a.m. - noon.
More than 5 thousand people are buried at the cemetery, dating back to the Civil War. It's a job that Burke says could use lots of people.
"I don’t know if there will be three people there, or a couple hundred. I would hope for a couple hundred."
If you are interested in helping out, Burke says any volunteer will need to bring their own weed wacker, fuel, rake, eye protection, and water. He plans to start work in the East-most section of the cemetery, and go until noon.
For more information, or to volunteer, call Jim Burke at (616) 481-8101.
