Volunteers ready Buck Cemetery for June 20 ceremony; local volunteer offers free stone cleaning and repairs

Members of the Bucksport committee confirmed plans for a memorial ceremony at Buck Cemetery and discussed site work and stone-setting in the coming weeks. An email from Whitney offered to clean and repair cemetery stones at no charge in time for the ceremony, and the historical society pledged $100 toward post-ceremony refreshments.

The committee reviewed materials for the ceremony that Liz Snow circulated and set the event to begin at 9:00 a.m. on June 20. Kevin provided photos showing that site work at 917 River Road has leveled the area where several stones will be relocated; committee members said the stones will be moved shortly and that Whitney is expected in town Friday to set stones she has quoted to place. Members noted that if Whitney helps move heavy stones, additional charges could apply, whereas her quote covered setting the stones once they are on site.

Committee members also reported recent maintenance at Buck Cemetery, saying two workers mowed the site and that small chain-link sections near a residence required reattachment. One granite piece under a plaque was reported cracked and may require repair or be unusable. Members flagged moving slate and other heavy material as the principal logistical challenge and agreed to coordinate volunteers, including Kevin and a representative from the American Legion, to assist with lifting and placement.

The committee discussed nearby sites as well: Kevin observed corner markers at the Riverview site that might be repurposed as boundary markers at the relocated graves, and members planned to contact Riverview’s representatives before their annual meeting to request cooperation. The committee also noted a privately owned cemetery that may be for sale; members suggested that a property transition could be an opportunity to tidy and secure that site but acknowledged that access and easement issues would need to be resolved first.

The town manager confirmed there is space at the historical society for refreshments after the ceremony and that no additional town paperwork was needed for that small event; the historical society’s $100 donation will cover basic supplies. Members discussed public outreach — posting a flyer on the town website and Facebook page — and noted ongoing Fourth of July planning could affect volunteer availability.

Next steps: committee members will confirm timing for stone transfers, coordinate volunteer assistance for moving and setting stones, and confirm logistics with the historical society and property owners as needed. The committee tentatively scheduled a short July meeting to finalize remaining items.