Commission discusses cemetery tours, veteran burial list; plans to hand 190‑name list to state

A member of the public, Micah Duncan, representing the Richford Community Histories Historical Society, told the commission the society will hold a Lynn and South Lynn cemetery tour on Saturday, Oct. 11, with two tour times and tickets available at the gate. Duncan said the event serves as a local fundraiser and educational program about people buried in those cemeteries.

During the standing committee report on cemeteries, Commissioner Hunt said there has been little new progress on organizing an O'Fallon cemetery tour this year and that, because of the time of year, the commission may pursue an event in spring if organizers become available. Hunt said he had emailed VFW contacts and Councilman John Roth seeking assistance on a veterans burial list but had not received responses. "So at this point in time, I think we're gonna take the list as it is and turn it over to the state," Hunt said, describing the list as about 190 names.

Commissioners discussed notifying the mayor and incorporating the list in Veterans Day communications; Hunt said previous attempts to publicize the list by speech or email had produced limited community response but that mayoral mention could help. Hunt also said the commission will attend the CLG forum Oct. 25 in Jefferson City and expects to pursue state guidance there about how best to share the burial list and where to archive or record it.

The discussion included an exchange about contacts at the VFW and other local veterans groups; Hunt agreed to follow up with local veteran organization contacts and to include any newly obtained information in the commission’s existing list. No formal motion or action was recorded on the matter during the meeting.