{"id":71004,"date":"2026-05-23T08:06:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T12:06:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/volunteers-breathe-new-life-into-forgotten-cemeteries-across-america\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T08:06:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T12:06:36","slug":"volunteers-breathe-new-life-into-forgotten-cemeteries-across-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/volunteers-breathe-new-life-into-forgotten-cemeteries-across-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteers Breathe New Life Into Forgotten Cemeteries Across America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779537996018.png?resize=1%2C1&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-71003\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Sherill Baldwin frequently spends her time working at a neglected graveyard in Connecticut. Though she discovered the location by accident, Baldwin has now become involved in a growing effort by volunteers known as &#8216;cemetery citizens&#8217; who dedicate themselves to caring for abandoned burial sites.<\/p><p>These dedicated individuals are part of a larger nationwide initiative focused on rehabilitating and maintaining burial grounds that have been overlooked or forgotten by their communities. The volunteers work to clear overgrown vegetation, repair damaged markers, and restore dignity to these final resting places.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A growing movement of dedicated volunteers called &#8216;cemetery citizens&#8217; is working to restore and maintain neglected burial grounds nationwide. These community members are providing care and attention to overgrown and forgotten graveyards that have been left to deteriorate over time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":71003,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[831],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779537996018.png?fit=1%2C1&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-ite","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":71752,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/volunteers-work-to-restore-forgotten-connecticut-cemeteries\/","url_meta":{"origin":71004,"position":0},"title":"Volunteers Work to Restore Forgotten Connecticut Cemeteries","author":"Admin","date":"May 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A grassroots effort is underway in Connecticut to rehabilitate abandoned and overgrown burial sites. Dedicated volunteers known as 'cemetery citizens' are working to care for neglected graveyards that have fallen into disrepair.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;U.S. News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779741377189.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":75402,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/iraq-veteran-transforms-abandoned-garden-into-healing-space-for-fellow-vets\/","url_meta":{"origin":71004,"position":1},"title":"Iraq Veteran Transforms Abandoned Garden Into Healing Space for Fellow Vets","author":"Admin","date":"June 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"An Iraq war veteran is spearheading efforts to restore a forgotten Japanese garden at a Veterans Affairs facility in West LA. John Follmer is working with other veteran volunteers to rehabilitate the neglected outdoor space on the campus.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;U.S. News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42893,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/kenyan-authorities-dig-up-33-bodies-from-cemetery-mass-grave\/","url_meta":{"origin":71004,"position":2},"title":"Kenyan Authorities Dig Up 33 Bodies from Cemetery Mass Grave","author":"Admin","date":"March 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Criminal investigators in western Kenya have recovered the remains of 33 people, including 25 children, from a mass burial site at a church cemetery. Officials believe the bodies were moved from a hospital morgue, but are investigating whether proper legal procedures were followed.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;World News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774543197494.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774543197494.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774543197494.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1774543197494.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53728,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/family-devastated-after-grave-robber-steals-ancestors-remains-from-pa-cemetery\/","url_meta":{"origin":71004,"position":3},"title":"Family Devastated After Grave Robber Steals Ancestor&#8217;s Remains from PA Cemetery","author":"Admin","date":"April 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A Lancaster County man faces dozens of charges for stealing human remains from over 100 graves across Pennsylvania cemeteries. Family members whose loved ones were targeted say the crimes have left them deeply disturbed and calling for stricter laws.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;U.S. News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776447591832.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776447591832.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776447591832.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776447591832.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57494,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/moscow-cemetery-reveals-hidden-chernobyl-victims-40-years-later\/","url_meta":{"origin":71004,"position":4},"title":"Moscow Cemetery Reveals Hidden Chernobyl Victims 40 Years Later","author":"Admin","date":"April 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Newly republished reporting from 1986 reveals how Western journalists discovered the unmarked graves of Chernobyl disaster victims at a Moscow cemetery. The discovery came weeks after the nuclear accident when Soviet authorities were providing limited information about casualties.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;World News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777167414809.jpg?fit=1000%2C655&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777167414809.jpg?fit=1000%2C655&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777167414809.jpg?fit=1000%2C655&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777167414809.jpg?fit=1000%2C655&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29532,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/maryland-cemetery-where-enslaved-iron-workers-rest-now-protected-by-state-park\/","url_meta":{"origin":71004,"position":5},"title":"Maryland Cemetery Where Enslaved Iron Workers Rest Now Protected by State Park","author":"Admin","date":"February 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A two-acre burial ground in Frederick County, Maryland, where enslaved workers from the historic Catoctin Furnace are laid to rest, has been donated to become part of Cunningham Falls State Park. The cemetery holds an estimated 100 graves of skilled African American ironworkers who helped produce weapons for the Revolutionary\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772313398795.jpg?fit=1024%2C639&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772313398795.jpg?fit=1024%2C639&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772313398795.jpg?fit=1024%2C639&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772313398795.jpg?fit=1024%2C639&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71004","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71004"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71004\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71004"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71004"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71004"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}