The Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery The Heritage Gazette Summer 2004 9/11 Memorial Grove Breaks Ground Greatest Grounds Enhancement in 150 Years The Ward Six 9/11 evil men burn and bomb, Memorial Grove at Con- good men build and gressional Cemetery bind.” The ceremony broke ground on Arbor was also attended by oth- Day as the first of nine ers who lost loved ones memorial groves to be at the Pentagon as well placed around the city in as members of the Ward memory of those who Six community. Commu- lost their lives on Sep- nity support is vital to tember 11, 2001. the success of the grove. Rosemary Dillard, Barry Goodinson of who lost her husband at Greenspaces for DC, the Pentagon on Septem- highlighted the living ber 11th, spoke to the memorial nature of the audience of the healing groves. Association power of the Groves. Chair Linda Harper ex- Quoting Dr. Martin Lu- pressed the Board’s ap- ther King, she said, preciation for the honor “When evil men plot, of caring for the grove. good men plan. When Continued on Page 6. Congressional to Host Healing Totem Poles Lummi Tribe Carvings Part of DC 9/11 Memorial Reflecting the national outreach women who perished on 9/11. The of healing and remembrance that eagle is a symbol of courage and are at the core of the city’s 9/11 vision and represents the men who Memorial Groves project, Wash- perished that day. The Sun and ington State’s Lummi Indian Tribe Moon elements represent grandfa- is contributing a massive healing ther and grandmother, suggesting totem pole destined for the King- the intergenerational aspects of our man Island Grove. nation and our families. The colors Congressional Cemetery has the of the elements on the poles are honor of hosting the Lummi red, white, black, and yellow, re- Tribe’s Healing Totem Poles later flecting the races that compose the this year while the Kingman Island United States. site is prepared. The structure in- Jewell is carving the poles this cludes two 13’ bears that are six summer and shipping them across feet in diameter and a 34’ arch the country in time for a presenta- across the top that will end in out- tion at the Pentagon on September ward facing eagles. Truly an im- 11, 2004 and a temporary exhibi- pressive piece of sculpture. tion at the opening of the new Jewell Praying Wolf James, the Smithsonian Native American Mu- master carver, visited Congres- seum on the Mall in late Septem- sional in February to discuss siting ber. The poles will then be set up and logistics with board members in Congressional Cemetery as part and the Greenspaces for DC group of our Ward Six satellite Memorial that is managing the Grove project. Grove until the Kingman Island Jewell explained that the bear is site is ready for them sometime in an ancient symbol of strength and 2005. For more information see: 25th Annual Meeting of the endurance and represents the www.greenspacesfordc.org. Ω Association on April 17, 2004 Letter from the Board Scott Kibler Joins Board Restoration Plans for 2004 25 Years & Counting Varied Funding Expands Options The Association welcomes Scott Kibler to the board. Mr. Kibler is The 25th Annual Meeting of Reflecting the Association’s sound an architect with the firm EWG the Association took place April and strengthening financial founda- Architects. A resident of Capitol 17th under a a beautiful display of tion, the Association is entering the Hill, Mr. Kibler has acted as a pink petals outside our one hun- summer construction season with project manager for several dred year old chapel. Our Kwan- three major projects in the works: residential design projects and zan Cherry trees seem to hold hazardous tree removals, gravestone looks forward to using those skills their blossoms every year just repair work, and a massive tree plant- as the Association begins to long enough to bless our annual ing. implement the restoration plans meeting with a blizzard of pink— The Association is pleased to an- embodied in last year’s Historic a sight that delights every year. nounce the completion of a major Resources Report. Ω Twenty-five years is a big mile- landscaping project. Using $30,000 of stone for our little Association. the `04 Congressional appropriation, We’ve seen some great advances the Board contracted for the removal Board Members and some great setbacks. We’ve of 30 dead or dying hazardous trees. Linda Donavan Harper—Chair been blessed with extraordinary Care of Trees, a major landscape and Patrick Crowley—Vice Chair volunteers and a wide community tree care company, removed the trees Sandy Schmidt—Treasurer of supporters. We’ve seen sum- in March and April. —Secretary mers of long grass and seasons of The Board plans to begin a modest J. Dudley Brown trim lawns. So where do we stand gravestone repair program this sum- Frederick Davis after 25 years of preservation and mer using the funds provided by the Rev. Judith Davis restoration efforts? Kiplinger Foundation’s three-year Farleigh Earhart Well I think we’ve turned the $15,000/year grants. The Building & Kenneth Eads corner. We’ve stepped up from Grounds Committee elected to focus Peter MacPherson being a struggling grass roots or- the repair work in the southwest Frank Devlin ganization that often couldn’t af- quadrant of the cemetery in the gen- Patrick Lally ford to mow the lawn to being a eral area of the planned Ward Six Scott Kibler professional, financially sound 9/11 Memorial Groves allee. Numer- operation that is making dramatic ous fallen or leaning gravestones will The Association for the Preservation improvements organizationally be righted and made safer. of Historic Congressional Cemetery and physically. This is no mean The installation of the Ward Six is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. feat. 9/11 Memorial Grove will see the All donations are tax deductible. Despite the valiant efforts of planting of over 140 trees. Funding ~~~~~~~~~~~ many board members and volun- for this $150,000 project is underway Operations Chair teers in the `80s and `90s, the this summer. Linda Harper times and the fortunes of this city The Board will also undertake a were not aligned for success. Do- number of smaller projects including Building & Grounds Chair Patrick Crowley nations and interest were meager the repair of the office archival safe, at best. Today, however, the times an upgrading of the gatehouse office, Education & Outreach Chair are right, the city is in renewal, and repairs to the brick wall. Comple- Sandy Schmidt and the cemetery is well on its tion of last year’s vault restoration way to a successful inauguration work is expected to be done by mid- Cemetery Manager of its third century in 2007. May. In February, volunteer Darrell William Fecke The strategic planning docu- Isaacs of Standard Restoration went ments are in place or under way, up on the gatehouse roof to make mi- Newsletter Editor Patrick Crowley the endowment fund is safe, se- nor roof repairs. Ω cure, and growing, the board is Web Master bringing world-class professionals PLCAA to Return in July Sandy Schmidt to our doorstep, and we still have Lawn Care Pros Will Treat Yard a cadre of volunteers that invites Groundskeeper the envy and kudos of sister or- The Professional Lawn Care Collin Ingraham ganizations. Association of America will return to We are on the cusp of making Contact Congressional Cemetery this The Association for the Preservation of Congressional Cemetery the na- summer for the fourth annual Historic Congressional Cemetery tional treasure it deserves to be. Renewal & Remebrance project. The 1801 E Street, Southeast With the help of our friends and PLCAA’s project pays homage to Washington, DC 20003 members, the Association is creat- the veterans and founding fathers at ing a multifaceted facility that Arlington Cemetery and 202-543-0539 honors those interred here, cele- Congressional Cemetery by bringing 202-543-5966 fax brates its heritage, welcomes the professional caretakers in for a day www.congressionalcemetery.org neighborhood community, and of tree care, landscape gardening, [email protected] cares for its natural environment. and lawn care treatment. The much It is an honor to be on board at appreciated assistance saves the us this moment in history. thousands of dollars each year. Ω ~ Patrick Crowley 2 Twenty-Two Year Old Cherry Trees Failing Cemetery Manager’s Notes DAR Sponsored 1982 Planting in Honor of Geo Washington A Year in the Life of a Cemetery The annual springtime exaltation Japanese cherries. The large bundles It’s been one year since I ac- of flowering cherry trees is without of petal clusters also tend to last cepted the cemetery manager’s po- doubt one of the highlights of living longer than those of other cherry sition of this cemetery, so a bit of in the Nation’s Capitol. The Yo- trees. When the flowering season reflection is in order. The Associa- shino and Akebono cherry trees do- comes to an end, the Cemetery ap- tion just published our annual re- nated by Japan as a symbol of peace pears to blanketed in a carpet of port and to read through the list of and friendship burst into view in late pink blossom snow. accomplishments is impressive. March/early April, grabbing the na- Our allee of cherry trees running We’ve managed to achieve many tional spotlight with parades, along Ingle Street from 17th almost of our goals this last year through speeches, and international declara- to 19th Street was the gift of the the hard work of many people, and tions of fraternity.