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4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, November 5, 1985 Editorial Comments - Mindless Violence There are simply no words to describe the sense of outrage all reasonable people must feel at the outburst of vandalism that took place Hallowe'en Night at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Prince Albert. Nearly 30 headstones were toppled over, and many of the older ones which were broken in the process, can not be repaired. The obvious question is why. What was going on in the heads of those responsible for this cowardly act of violence: the desecra- tion of the memorial and final resting place for the dead? The toppling of nearly 30 headstones was no mere Hallowe'en prank like soaping a few windows, or even smashing eggs or pum- pkins on the main street. We expect those latter kinds of pranks on Hallowe'en and tolerate them, for they cause little harm to anyone. But deliberate violence to a cemetery, is something else again. We can only imagine how the families of those whose headstones were toppled or damaged must feel. There are so many people who make regular trips to the cemetery, often to tend with special care the graves of loved ones. It is not the kind of place one would expect to see acts of wilful vandalism. As for the people responsible for the damage, well ..... what can we say? What can anybody say? Our hope is that the police are suc- cessful in their efforts to track down the culprits, and if found guilty before the appropriate court of law, they are afforded the full weight of the law. And it goes without saying, that if those responsible are caught and convicted, they must be made financially responsible for the costs of replacing and/or repairing the stones. A sad aspect of this sad affair, is that some people may hold it up as an example of how the younger generation behaves these days. That's not fair. We should be very careful not to paint a wide swath of opinion based on the dumb actions of a few eraser-heads. We don't know now if 'younger people' were responsible. But we have to wonder about those who showed so little respect for the dead, and what kind of regard they have for the living. Not for Granted There will be two events of significance in our community this week. On Sunday morning, the veterans and members of the Port Perry Legion will hold the annual Remembrance Day Parade with a ser- vice at the Memorial Library and at the Cenotaph in front of the Legion Hall on Bay Street. The next day. Monday, November 11, most of us will pause at 11:00 a.m. for the customary moment's silence in memory of those who died in the service of their country. On Tuesday, November 12, voters in Scugog Township and across Ontario will go to the polls in a municipal election. It1s perhaps fitting that the two events ---- Remembrance Day and municipal elections ---- fall so close to each other this year. For both are inter-twined. In paying tribute to the memory of the more than 100,000 brave Canadians who gave their lives in two world wars this century, we are reminded of the reasons why they fought and died Because of their sacrifice, certain fundamental freedoms for all of us are guaranteed. And one of those freedoms is the right to vote In a democratic election. Many will exercise that nght on Tuesday, but sadly about as many will decide for one reason or another not to exercise that nght Municipal elections traditionally attract about hall the eligible voters That may be a reflection of a lot of things. but it 1s not in any (Turn to page 6) - (T wouLD BE NCE IF WE HAD A GOOD TURNOUT ON NOV 12TH, .. A LOT OF PEOPLE SACRIFICED THEIR LIWES .. AS TO PROVIDE OUR RIGHT To VOTE ... the {r CNA ch S RC I J PETER HVIOSTEN Member of the Publisher Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc ahon ind Ontano Community Newspaper Assoc ahor Advertis € Ma ager Published every "Tuesday by the Port Perey Star Co Ltd Port Perry Ontario JB McCLELLAND Editor Author zed as second C1ass Mma! by 'he Post Otte Depar tment! Ottawa and 'or cash CATHY ROBB Dayment of postage 1 Cash News & Features Second Class Mail Reg:strat or Number 0.65 Subscription Rate In Canada 315 00 per year Elsewhere $45 00 per year Single Copy 35 COPYRIGHT All Layout and COM POSIhon Of advertisements produced by the adver tising department of the Port Perry Star Company Limited are protected under ~0pyr gh! and may not be reproduced withou! the written permission of the publisher Chatterbox by Cathy Robb Pine Grove Cemetery is a beautiful place to be on November 1st, 1985. It's somewhere around 2:30 in the afternoon and the sun, having just escaped Daylight Savings Time, is already throwing long shadows. Across the street there's a white-haired old man leaning against a rake on his front lawn, a neatly piled collection of leaves burning lazily bet- ween him and a buddy, an equally white-haired man dressed snugly in hat and a bright red- checked lumberjack coat. Their voices drift faintly over to the cemetery, where what's left of the sunlight is golden and splaying over the autumn leaves which lie everywhere. It's quiet here, a pleasant quiet that envelopes me in a peace | haven't enjoyed all day until now. I'd left my car parked near the gates so I find myself walking down the narrow roadway that winds its way through the cemetery, leaves scrun- ching underfoot. Ahead, two middle-aged women place fresh flowers and wreaths beside one particular headstone, under which someone special must rest. Perhaps a son or a husband I can't hear what they're saying but I imagine what's going through their minds and a sweet sorrow washes over me To my right, over towards the back of the cemetery, a bespectacled older git in a dapper checked hat makes his way to a beat-up Malibu or some such car, gets in and pulls away. He must drive by me to reach the gates and when he does, he nods and smiles | smile back and wonder who he was visiting. His wife, I guess. I think about how much he must miss her. How lonely he might be A lot of my friends think I'm nuts, but there's something about cemeteries I really like Part of the reason is the peacefulness, the solitude, but I also appreciate how a cemetery can allow a visitor to think. With no connection to the world moving out- side it, the cemetery is a haven for those who wish to contemplate, not only their dead friends and family, but anyone or anything that pops into a person's mind In a lot of ways a cemetery reminds me of a church It inspires the same sort of reverence, the same kind of peace Not only that, cemeteries are interesting It's amazing how much you can learn about the SHATTERED PEACE history of an area simply by spending a little time reading old headstones. You can discover who the town's prominent and founding families were, how they were related and how they died. Years ago, headstones were more descriptive and often included details of death, whether it was natural, accidental, disease or murder. A trip to a cemetery can tell you how small pox wiped out an entire ¢ ymmunity or what year a tragic fire occurred. If the inscriptions are hard to read, just spread a piece of paper over them and rub with a chunk of graphite or a soft pencil. Historians know and value the information given to them on headstones and school children everywhere have come to know the colourful details of their local history from field trips to community cemeteries. They're museums of information, gardens of contemplation and peace, and places for mourning. Most of all, they deserve to be treated with respect Which is why the Star editor said to me Fri- day morning, "If you get the chance, take a drive out to Pine Grove Cemetery this afternoon and look around." l knew what I'd find. John B. had told me all about it And yet, when I saw the damage. I was still shocked. Thirty broken, cracked or smashed headstones, some damaged beyond repair. lay amongst the leaves. Worse, most of the broken stones are a century or so old The night before, Hallowe'en night, somebody had ripped through this quiet place, kicking over headstones as they went in a senseless, mindless spree of destruction The cost of repairing the stones will be astronomical, but no amount of money will replace the invaluable antique marble, carefully inscribed decades ago with priceless information. Too, no money will correct the damage done to families and friends who will, no doubt, be in- censed when they discover the brutal lack of respect shown to their loved ones Why anyone would want to tear apart a cemetery is beyond me And whatever amimals are responsible, should have their butts kicked, but good