Sitka Memorial Park
Dear Editor: Say what, you may ask? I’m still surprised when I hear someone ask me what (or where) is the Sitka Memorial Park? Most think it’s part of the Sitka National Cemetery since it borders them. In fact, the only connection besides physical, is that our grounds keeper is the same for both entities. Our nonprofit organization also goes by the name of the Sitka Cemetery Association (SCA) and we are doing business as the Sitka Memorial Park. The entry to our location is under and through the big white arch that says, “Sitka Memorial Park.”
The SCA is governed by a volunteer board of five Sitkans. Most of us have been on the board for decades. There is a standing joke among us old-timers that the only way off this board is to, well, you know, “expire!” Similar, but not the same, as expiration dates on items in grocery stores. (I couldn’t resist that!) None of us are paid and the time we collectively donate, amounts to hundreds of hours a year. It’s truly a labor of love in what we do.
It’s a bit ironic to point out, but nobody needs us, until they do! Our business is interring remains of mostly local people or memorializing them, which can be done one of three ways. Either a casket or burial in the ground of an urn with ashes, a placement of ashes inside the wall (with a plaque on the outside), or just a small plaque mounted to the wall. The “wall” references our columbarium wall in the center of our grounds, just under the white cross. Selling spaces on the wall and selling ground plots is how we raise our money to pay for the care of our grounds, mowing of our huge lawn and upkeep of our buildings. The income just mentioned also includes interest earned from a $100,000 dedication of funds where the principle is owned and retained by the City and Borough of Sitka. Our budget each year averages around $60,000.
Since our inception in the early 1980s, we have always been self-funded. Never have we asked for money from any group, organization or entity. Though some donations given or provided to us over the years have been unsolicited, we are thankful for our shelter (for services), our bell carillon and our riding lawn mower along with the rare, or outright cash gifts.
Recently, we have made a huge expenditure to have a large section of our cemetery be leveled and reseeded, through a local contractor. This was to address much-needed deferred maintenance as it was becoming quite difficult to mow and maintain with the unevenness of the grounds. Though this area is still off limits for walking upon until our grass has taken root, we believe it will be an investment well spent and an area we can be proud of when the lawn greens up. Meanwhile, we would ask for your patience should you visit our grounds until the new renovations have been mowed at least once.
Should anyone wish to volunteer their time to our board or for any number of projects or chores on our grounds, or even to make a charitable cash donation to our non-profit entity, we would more than welcome the help and the funds. Or, if your interest is piqued and would like to know more about anything mentioned above, please feel free to call me at 747-6044 or Lois Rhodes at 747-3671 for more information.
Thank you for taking your time to read this.
On behalf of our board,
Roger L. Hames, president,
Sitka Cemetery Association
