OAK HILL: We have always had a certain fondness for Oak Hill
Cemetery with its unusual tombstones, markers for some of
Bradford’s founding fathers, and the unique memorials – such as the
Firefighters Memorial.[neWLine]

So this letter we received recently disturbed us a bit. It’s
from Charles W. Vickery of Waynesboro:[neWLine]

“”As a descendant of former Bradford residents I have always
enjoyed visits to my parents’ hometown.ðI have always realized that
things in Bradford were a little depressed due to economic
reasons.[neWLine]

“”One thing I always found is that the citizens of Bradford
always had pride in their hometown.ðThis past weekend I came to
Bradford to visit relatives.[neWLine]

“”My father told me that my great-grandmother was buried in the
Oak Hill Cemetery. I thought it would be good to visit the
grave.[neWLine]

“”What I found at the cemetery was thatðmanyðof Bradford’s
founders’ and deceased residents’ graves were in serious
disarray.ðI traveled on the low roadðwhich I realize does not get
much traffic. It was shameful.[neWLine]

“”I also saw many tombstones that were spray-painted by vandals,
one of which had a Nazi emblem on it.[neWLine]

“”We tried to travel the upper road to my great-grandmother’s
grave and it is all but impassable in anything less than 4-wheel
drive.ðI was unable to get any further than the first
curve.[neWLine]

“”My question to the people of Bradford is who owns this
cemetery?ðWhy is it in such a shameful state of disrepair? I find
it appalling that there is an emblem of hate on someone’s final
resting place.ðI cannot believe that I am the first person to see
this.[neWLine]

“”What can be done so that the final resting place of many of
Bradford’s residents is maintained to a decent state?ð[neWLine]

“”I welcome any comments.””[neWLine]

We realize that the cemetery’s location atop an incredibly steep
hill makes it very difficult to maintain roads in and out. But, a
Nazi emblem? We, too, find it unthinkable that a grave would be
vandalized in such a way.[neWLine]

Bradford has a plethora of civic organizations. It would be
great if one would volunteer to maintain this beautiful old
historical cemetery.[neWLine]

[neWLine]

TODAY’S QUOTE: “”Freedom of speech is as good as sex,”” said pop
icon Madonna in 1990, according to our Freedom Forum calendar.