PEA RIDGE — Memorial Day is May 31.

Traditionally, people visit grave sites on Memorial Day and often place flowers on the tombstones.

There are several cemeteries in the area which are maintained by associations consisting of persons who have family members buried in the cemetery. Those associations are governed by a board of directors.

As Memorial Day approaches, the directors are busy preparing for the visitors anticipated in the cemeteries. The associations forthe cemeteries contract for someone to mow the cemeteries and maintain them.

“If people would clean up their old flowers and keep the area clean around their family members’ graves,” Brently Wilkerson, chairman of the Buttram’s Chapel Cemetery Association, said, “It would save us money.”

Wilkerson said the association just paid about $100 to have the old flowers gathered and disposed of.

Bayless Cemetery is accepting donations for care of the cemetery.

Donations may be sent to Sharon Barnett, treasurer, at P.O. Box 14, Gateway, AR 72733.

News, Pages 1 on 05/12/2010