Veterans organisations clean up cemetery
They say they will only concentrate on the veterans and nothing more.
Two veterans organisations, the Bosbok and Avante Units decided to clean up the veteran’s section at the Oslo Beach Cemetery last Saturday morning.
Alec Henderson, chairperson of Avante in Port Edward said with authorities not having sufficient funding to maintain cemeteries, they decided to adopt the cemetery.
These organisations also assist old war veterans.
Henderson said they are trying to bring back the dignity of those who have passed on.
“We want to bring the cemetery back to ‘life’ so that people can start respecting where we come from and our culture.”
He said they also decided to do the clean up, so that when loved ones visit, and if it is well maintained, they will not be afraid.
According to Henderson, the group is made up of pensioners giving of their own time with their aches and pains, to clean the cemetery.
The chairperson of Bosbok, Martie van Heerden said they will concentrate on the wall of remembrance for the veterans, so that history can be recorded.
“We will also put up our emblem with their names.”
Henderson said they are continuing with what was initially started, with the names of veterans from World War 1 and World War 2 already on the wall.
“We are now continuing with the history of the third generation and the defence force that we now know as our veterans.”
They will only concentrate on the veterans. He said this is also to give back pride to those who are no longer alive.
Van Heerden said they will be doing similar projects in other towns in the coming months.
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