Remembering Those Who Were Forgotten

While Memorial Day was established to honor men and women who have died while serving in the military, many Americans also mark the holiday by visiting the grave sites of loved ones.

But there are some graves that hold the remains of people who had no family or friends. Olney Cemetery in Pendleton is the home to thousands of people who went unclaimed after their passing. They were residents of Eastern Oregon Hospital and Training Center, which opened in 1913 to care for the mentally ill, and they are often the forgotten ones.

So when Hermiston Girl Scout Troop 51444 was deciding what organization they wanted to support with money set aside from their annual cookie sales, the girls thought of the Arc of Umatilla County, which provides support and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Arc of Umatilla County President Katherine Palmer suggested the scouts donate flowers for memorial pots that are set out at Olney Cemetery.

According to troop leader Michelle Kane, the girls bought and planted the flowers in planters prior to bringing them to the cemetery. Palmer met the girls at the cemetery and shared some of the cemetery’s history.

“It was a pretty somber experience standing on that hill listening to Katherine share the history,” Kane said.

The grave sites are simple, humble markers of the thousands of patients that were admitted to the hospital between 1913 and 1982.

Afterward, the troop had some remaining money and used it to buy and plant flowers at the Arc on Orchard Avenue in Hermiston. The scouts who took part in the Olney Cemetery and Arc flower project were Megan Kane, Veronica Gomez, Claire Wilson, Sofia Gispert-Tello, Andrea Gispert-Tello and Giulia Dall’Acqua. Megan, Veronica and Giulia are all seniors at Hermiston High School and Girl Scout Ambassadors. Claire, Sofia and Andrea are sophomores at HHS and Girl Scout Seniors.

The Arc is also wrapping up its Memorial Garden Fundraiser on May 31. Donations are used to support the Arc as well as for college scholarships for individuals with intellectual disabilities at Blue Mountain Community College. For more information, contact Palmer at (541) 276-5047 or e-mail her at ka.palmer@yahoo.com.

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