A project to place a flower on every grave in Emery County’s cemeteries on or near Memorial Day was started in 2011. The idea generated from the fact that many graves do not get the yearly decorations others do because families have moved away, died or some graves are neglected. Richard Shaw, former publisher of the Emery County Progress thought of the project and saw to its implementation along with all the newspaper employees.
More than 500 volunteers from the county participated in the program either making flowers with materials provided by the Emery County Progress or by placing those rememberances on graves the week before Memorial Day. Many different individuals and businesses donated time and money to the project.
This event is a one of a kind project for Emery County residents to pay homage to those that built their community, regardless of what part they played in its history.
The project is a true gift the current residents of the area gave to those that created, built and helped our communities to prosper.
The Emery County Progress would like to thank all those who became involved in the flower project which is in its eighth year. Thanks to the many volunteers who make the flowers and to those who adopted a cemetery and saw to it every grave was remembered with a flower. This year Meridian Mentoring took care of the flowers in Castle Dale and Huntington. Levi Olsen, sterling scholar from Emery High placed the flowers in Orangeville, over the mountain in Wales and Spring City and Victor and Desert Lake. Judy Palmer spearheaded the flowers in Cleveland and Brandy Wagner and family placed flowers in Elmo. Judy Scott took care of Green River. Patsy Stoddard took care of Emery and Molen and Clawson. The Ferron youth council decorated the Ferron Cemetery. The Wadleys took care of Lawrence Cemetery.
Newspaper flower project finishes eighth year of service
Levi Olsen places flowers at the Orangeville cemetery. He is doing projects for his Sterling Scholar volunteer hours.