Page 5 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - May - June 2022

5

Photos by Frazier Myer and Jacob Secena
Volunteers tidy up gravestones and surrounding cemeteries on the Chehalis Reservation.
All hands on deck for

Cemetery Cleanup

By Jacob Secena
The Chehalis Tribe cleaned its cemeteries on
the reservation on May 20 to show respect for
loved ones who have passed away and are buried
at the tribal grave sites.
Each year in the spring, the tribe continues this
tradition. Grounds and maintenance crew keep the
areas tidy, but this is a day to thoroughly spruce up
the sites. Headstones are polished and volunteers
pick up weeds and straighten items placed on the
grounds to commemorate loved ones.
A crew also cleaned at the Ben Cemetery in
Oakville, just off reservation land. It is named
after the Ben family, Chehalis tribal members.
Everyone who helped straighten up the
cemeteries was entered into a raffle for giving
back to the community.