Missing memories
By Mike Mack, Special Writer
MANSFIELD — The board of trustees of the Columbus Cemetery discussed the removal of 59 veterans and firemen markers from graves at its meeting Tuesday.
The markers were all still in place on Christmas Day — however by the next night, a family visiting a loved one discovered a large pile of firemen and veterans markers left behind in the darkness of the cemetery grounds — each one out of place. The markers were not stolen, but were thrown with some scattered still elsewhere and found the next day. The markers each had a home next to a veteran’s remains or representing the lot where a fireman is buried.
The problem board members face is that there are no names on the markers nor are there any records of which graves had markers. They only display what war the veteran served in and when.
The cemetery, which was formally founded in 1859, has more than 2,500 people buried within its grounds.
Some folks have alleged that it is not very well patrolled by police.
”The police really aren’t doing anything,” board member Richard Archer said. “I was up riding around there for 15 minutes, and no one came to check who I was, and that was at midnight.”
Mansfield Township police said the incident was not reported until January.
Without proper security, there are really no leads as to who might have vandalized these graves, according to board members at Tuesday’s meeting, who added that the incident was reported when a visitor noticed several tags strewn about the graveyard.
Of the approximately 60 markers removed, more than half of them have yet to be identified and returned to the graves they belong to, according to the board meeting.
”I don’t know where 31 of them go,” board Vice President Fred Johnson said.
One of the biggest reasons the board is struggling to return the markers to their rightful graves is the lack of interest the community has shown, members said.
”No on has reached out for more information,” Mr. Archer said. “If nobody calls and inquires about them, what are we going to do with them?”
He said veterans place the markers at the graves.
One popular theory among Columbus Cemetery board members is that children removed the markers.
”We feel it was the work of children since they did not take them and just threw them around (rather than stealing the markers for cash),” said Dorothy Archer, wife of Richard Archer. Ms. Archer is the secretary and sexton for the cemetery. “I ask myself what kind of values were they given by their parents? Certainly not one of respect.”
Board members have asked for help from the community, and request that anyone with information to contact Ms. Archer.
To reach Dorothy Archer, call 609-298-4339 with any information pertinent to the incident.

