We’ll definitely be back to investigate and explore this cemetery some more. Better prepared next time. Also, this cemetery appears to not be on Find A Grave, which is a first for me to find. All said, I was definitely shocked to find this cemetery in this poor condition in the middle of town. If it was out in the middle of no where it wouldn’t have surprised me as much as it did... and how new the graves were. Any locals wanna join me on the next trip to this cemetery?
The generation that followed these people are now seniors and may not have funding to care for the cemetery and you can forget these young adults - most dont give a damn!
This is what I was thinking as well. That first one he looked at the guy was in both world wars ... and he's in a damn overgrown cemetery like that. Terrible.
Those tombstones you see in that fashion, are government-issued tombstones for veterans. As already stated BSM stands for bronze star medal. There is a series of initials for awards that these veterans have won such as if the letter say PH he is a recipient of a purple heart, or DSC he is the recipient of a distinguished service cross.
Robert, BSM are not initials. It stands for Bronze Star Medal. It's the 4th highest medal given to Americans in Combat. I have one with "Combat V" for valor along with the Purple Heart. Tom Boyte, Gy.Sgt. USMC retired Vietnam, 65-66/ 70-71
Thank you for your service, Mr. Boyle. I never new exactly what the significance of the bronze star might be. My father had three of them from WWII but never talked about them at all. It broke my heart to see the forgotten graves of the servicemen. Everyone deserves better than what happened in this cemetary, but I feel extremely melancholy for the veterans.
Thanks for fighting for our freedom! Always will respect you and all the men and women who fight for our country!💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
As recent as those are they should still have family visiting. Shame on them for not raising hell about the condition. Great find! You guys are so brave.
I agree, but unfortunately the cemetery probably filled up and ran out of room for new graves. With no more money coming in from the sale of plots the operators closed up shop and disappeared. Even in states with laws requiring cemetery operators to set aside money for the care of the grounds after the cemetery fills up, they often don't bother. They just file for bankruptcy and walk away. It's despicable, but it happens.
@@glenncartwright6136The graves are not new. The older ones have family that passed long ago, and the other ones either passed or moved. I don't visit graves of my family who died in the 80s and 90s. I only visit my daughter. In the cemetery where she is, most older grave are not visited anymore
I so badly want to clean this up. Racks, shovels, machete, and work crew and before you know it done. No one deserves to be forgotten. Makes me very sad.
This needs researching through available local resources. It raises a lot of curiosity questions about the ownership and regulatory aspects of cemeteries from a local level and on up. My calculated guess is that an increasing number of burial sites have simply fallen off the grid. Some could be abandoned properties, at this point in time. Our traditions are far less focused on gravesite visits. I wouldn’t know where to find the original family contractual agreements for family plot purchases. These probably disappeared decades ago when the final, final safety deposit and lock boxes were emptied, and contents were misplaced or discarded. The generations making reliable duty visits to the cemetery have vanished. In the absence of many watchful eyes and active communication between cemetery management and family plot owners, things happen.
@@janicelmckee After 7 years if the family members can not be reach or are no longer visiting the grave that body can and will be dug up for the plot to be sold for the next person i know this for a fact !!!
Cathy....You will be gone . Do not worry about being forgotten in this world. In 2 generations, if humanity survives, they can have a hologram of you to remember you by. You are eternal . Da Koala knows !!! *~;)
Its called Perpetual Care. A portion of the cost of burial should be held for upkeep - maintenance. Take note of where you purchase plots and ask questions!
@@nickbeam5432 What state do you live in??? Those grounds should be registered to alert local and federal law enforcement. Even if it is privately owned doing such a thing in the State of Virginia is a criminal offense. OMG!
As long as this video is here on RUclips, all these people will never be forgotten!!! Thank you guys for documenting this and hope their loved ones will see this and help restore this sacred ground to its glory!!!
It’s ugly, isn’t it. I’m about to embark on some general research, but I believe that some cemeteries were privately owned. Family plot purchases more than likely were contractual and included maintenance provisions. In the normal course of events, anything is possible. I believe that I’ve read about burial properties that have gone into foreclosure and they are sometimes abandoned altogether. But, with a myriad of plot purchases or long term leases, a municipality would be inclined to let things slide because of arduous legal complications. I imagine that surviving families would be pitched into a state of heated protest at the thought of any gravesite disturbances. Suffice to say, the only place that this can head is into lasting disgruntlement.
@@janicelmckee There are different laws and practices in every state and country. In doing genealogy research I found where my ancestors graves were removed because of age. I've heard that in some counties if you do not keep up payments to keep a family plot it will be destroyed an another family can take over. I feel like any graves / stones should be saved whether on private property or not. We can do better than that as a society.
I am thinking that this and other Cemetery's would be an ideal project for Boy Scouts/retirees/ a crew of VFW old timers. Armed with chain saws/rakes/weed whackers on a weekend it would be whipped into shape . I would also flag all graves to make it easier to find them again. Thanks again Side Step crew!
Really sad that these graves have been forgotten. In the early 1980's I was an over the road salesman for a company in Wisconsin. I traveled the back roads in the Northwoods and ran across many llttle country cemeteries. I always stopped and checked them out. But none were as forgotten as this one is. Sad!
Thanks for taking us along. What you may have witnessed is a sign of the times. People seem to care less and less about the past and it's lessons to us. I am an old Georgian and during my lifetime I have seen many of these old places completely disappear. So sad!
Kelli White - Very true. A lot of people spent large amounts of money for the traditional trappings that seemingly assure the immortalization of loved ones. Unfortunately, this is just another sales spoof. Times and customs have radically changed. As with condos and time shares, unless everyone responsibly pays up and participates, the whole scheme falls apart. Some plot contracts may have had time limits on cemetery-related services. Who knows. The entire topic is a study in it’s own right. I try to be philosophical. If we love, care for our family members during their days, and provide a respectful and honorable l send-off for them at the end of their days, we’ve done well. We have very limited control over their mortal remains, and even our own. Let’s hope that these people were not forgotten during their lives. Given the number of Veterans, this is unlikely. My favorite balm for this particular wound is to be supportive, in the moment, of the Veterans still among us.
I belong to the VFW and we dont have any direct affiliation with any organization that would be remotely interested in saving graves. Unfortunately :( I to would love to go and help clean up the forgotten cementeries. So sad. I dad qualified to be buried in a "national cementary".
We had one just like this just outside current day downtown Houston back in the early 1990's. It was originally a slave cemetery that remained active until the 60's or so. Circa 1992, a group of people either remembered or discovered it and mounted a tremendous cleanup effort. What is sadder than its abandoned and neglected state was what happened when it was cleaned up. it didn't take long for the local thugs to desecrate nearly every grave, and it's not a small cemetery. I toured the place with a group less than a year after the cleanup and nature was already in the process of reclaiming it. Vaulted burials were broken open and bones scattered about, including one intact skull that I nearly stepped on. Some graves even showed signs of being deliberately dug up. Perhaps it's best that this place is left forgotten and nature in charge of protecting those who rest.
Thank you.... this is exactly why I do not list even Cemetery locations publicly on these videos. Especially one in this current state. I have been to several off the beaten path cemeteries that have been heavily vandalized. Thankfully this one isn’t so much in the middle of no where as it is just covered up.
@drowned rat Some sick sobs loose in the world armed stake out units and 12 ga 000 buckshot come to mind as a certain western anti hero said "some people just need killing"
Great video ,so very sad to see it in such a forgotten state, look forward to when you go back and help to remember some of these poor people be remembered. Thank you Robert
One of the saddest sights I've seen. Where are the families and friends of people buried here in the 80's and 90's? Would the city not have some responsibility for a cemetery in the middle of town?!
Some people have no friends or families, especially older folks. I, for one, have neither family nor friends and have no idea where I can even afford to be buried. No one will visit my grave much less clean it up! These things happen in life. There are many twists in the road.
@Sheryl Wood I would go being cremated I already have instructions to be dumped out into a certain ocean I know it’s a bummer topic but it has to be done.Most of my family is cremated
This is so very sad to see. Hope you contact your city officials. Ask them what the heck is going on! No cemetery should be this forgotten. There are organizations that would love to know about this place. Send your video to your congressman. Make this public in your area. So glad you decided to check it out. Bless you and the lost souls of this cemetery.
It truly saddens me to see a cemetery being neglected abandoned or forgotten. Its so not right. It breaks my heart to see that even the veterans buried here were forgotten. I can't imagine some of the graves were paved over for a highway. I could believe they did that. I am Catholic but i chose cremation when the time comes just scatter my ashes. Thank you for all you do. Take care.
Robert, for a young man I commend you for your interest, determination and respect as you discover and reveal these sad resting places of people long forgotten, but who shouldn’t be. When I saw the graves of those poor men, one of whom fought two world wars AS WELL as in Korea, and to have his remains left and disregarded like this I think is a real shame and to me, a disgusting lack of respect he deserves. I do hope you are able to bring this particular cemetery to the attention of someone in authority, and it can be cleared, tidied up whatever, without visiting vandals afterwards,as one person mentioned. It’s fascinating to “go with you all “ on these adventures, and long may you continue. Warmest regards and best wishes to you all from the U.K. Helen 👍👏🏻👏🏻😘
Aloha S.S.A.! I agree, with your estimatation of the growth, looks like those skinny trees are about 30 yrs old. Could be that 30yrs ago was when the caretaker passed away..It would be interesting to find out who owns the land, & maybe get permission for a Boy Scout troop to do a cleaning project there??
@@navigator1383 ... Well yes, you're correct. I'm in Texas too. I live west of Fort Worth now, but used to live in East Texas. Trees can definitely grow that fast in East Texas and probably Georgia too. I didn't want to seem like I was exaggerating 😀
Thank you so much for the tour of this historic cemetery. So many military buried their with no acknowledgement from the VA groups? I appreciate you looked so closely at each gravestone and toilet plumbing.
What the hell is wrong with the state of Georgia even having the audacity to even do this!! If i had family members in this cemetery id be having a law suit over it!! The state needs to get it back in respectful condition!! Thanks for posting and bringing the country to the awareness of this issue!!
The "BSM" on Favors Dawkins' tombstone probably indicates that he was a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal. It is awarded to "any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service,..." And now he is gone and forgotten.
Forward this video to a local news station or newspaper. They would be able to do something with the story. Especially considering all of the veterans buried there.
This is such a shame. It saddens me that some black American graveyards are neglected. Someone needs to take the initiative to clean it up and mark it. Maybe with your video a change will come for the better. Thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention. God bless you, Robert, Brain and Cody, and your families.
Thank you. Yes, it definitely needs to cleaned up. Honestly it should be the responsibility of the families who have people buried there and the city. Not to mention whoever the land is deeded to, which it is probably county land listed as a cemetery. I haven’t confirmed that yet though.
that you could find a name and deed for this place at the courthouse? Maybe get a few names off the stones and look up the obits. Maybe there you can find a funeral home name to contact. Keep us posted as to what you find. I'm in Virginia and not able to help you or I would.Is it possible
I just posted above. The cemetery belonged to a church. The church still exists in that town. Even if the land was taken by eminent domain, it seems the church should still maintain it. From their Facebook page: “Smith Grove Is Located At 6550 Carr Street.Established 129 Years Ago By 8 Members.It Is Pastored By The Rev.Melvin E. Perry.”
Just found your channel! Thanks for sharing your local history. Thanks for helping to preserve it with your videos. Who ever raised you must be proud. Keep on exploring and sharing!
Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems almost fitting. We are from the earth and to the earth we shall return. I kind of like the idea of ending up in the woods. It’s my favorite place to be.
Love your adventures. Reminds me of a cemetery nearby on the coast of CA. Purissima was a town abandoned and also had a cemetery. Someone now is trying to fix it up.
This is just one of about 90 plus such "lost" cemeteries within the Muscogee County limits. The city takes no responsibility of these cemeteries; they consider them all as abandoned property. It's sad, and deplorable....but that's the way it is...until enough of us raise hell with the powers that be.
Can no one find out who owns this property? What a shame it's forgotten like this. A lot of Veterans buried here. Next time don't forget safety glasses y'all. Thanks for the video. I hope it can be cleaned up. God bless y'all.
Thank you for posting this. Someone who needed to see it must have. Husband and I visited the site just yesterday. IT LOOKS GREAT now. All cleaned up. Several more graves now visible, and brush and most trees gone. Fall leaves now blanket the ground and it feels like an open, peaceful, respectful place. Thank you again. We have no personal connection to church or those resting there but we wanted to see if anything had been done. Pleased it has. Happy to send a few pics at some point.
Sidestep adventures I appreciate that you go and look at these places, homes, businesses and especially the cemeteries so that all can be brought back to life momentarily so that people will know that they are there. It is a shame that these people have been forgotten and or just not taken care of. Whatever the reason for the cemeteries to fall in to such neglect, I am glad that you are able to find them. No one should be forgotten. Thank you.
Unbelievable ! I cried while watching this. Truly heartbreaking to see the shape this place is in, especially the graves of the Veterans ! Please, please do a follow up video if you get anymore information on this sad,sad cemetery. These people deserve to be remembered.
I am definitely going back as soon as I am able. After I go back and see further for myself I am going to bring it to greater attention of the community and see if I can get it cleaned up.
Listen I read these comments and replies don't let 1 person discourage you BLOCK him and forget about it he's just an A-S you Brian Cody and your friends do a great job on these videos ! I wish I was younger I'd love to come adventuring w/u all God Bless you please keep answering the good comments and questions that's what makes you you You care about the old things most ppl take for granted you see the beauty in it it comes alive in your eyes and so you bring that to us and Thank You for that ♥️🇺🇸🙏😇😊❣️
I appreciate your words. I don’t know what comment you’re referring to, but I tend not to let negative comments get to me. No matter what you do or make videos about, someone on RUclips is going to try to give you a hard time or be negative. I had one guy just recently leave nasty comments on 4 of my videos, insulting everything from what I was doing to me personally. What that told me is he was actually a fan of the videos! He watched 4 or more. Anyway, people really shouldn’t waste their time writing out nasty or negative comments cuz if I see them I just delete them and smile a bit when I do it.
I'm in the UK unfortunately or I'd be there like a shot! Just thinking though, one of the many things I love about Americans is the love and respect you show your veterans..is there any local military base you could get involved because of the Vets in there? Much respect to you guys x
This is heartbreaking these veterans deserve a flag and their families visiting them. Can we call and complain to someone? Just let us know and I’m ready to dial them up! 😢
My mom and I used to clean up family graves and take flowers every year. Since she passed, I've continued the tradition. I'm going to be cremated and request no service.
I looked up Favors Dawkins on Ancestry.com. Found the application for his military headstone. It states that he is buried in the "Smith Grove Cemetery", Gentian, Georgia (nearest post office Columbus, Georgia). Dawkins was awarded the Bronze Star and Good Conduct medals. There was a church on the site at one time.
I just discovered your presence on YT yesterday, via your abandoned CofG Railway right-of-way exploration. The subject matter of this video is one I can relate to, having been involved with the care of numerous family cemetery plots in SW Washington State for much of my life, at least for the past 30 years. While my late parents and I went above and beyond the norm of treating the final resting places of our relatives like an extension of our garden (leaving numerous planters and adding other bedding plants to the bases of the headstones for Memorial Day and in the fall, cleaning/polishing the granite headstones, etc.), many other families have not had anyone to honor the memories of those that have passed in that way. Either there is no one nearby, or age/infirmity have limited one's involvement. Then again, it's just as probable that there simply is no interest in those that could do the work - which is the most depressing possibilty. Everyone has a story, lived a life, and in most cases, is worthy of being remembered and afforded the respect of keeping their likely sole remaining connection to this world preserved. After not being able to tend to this responsibility for three years, I finally resumed the tradition earlier this week, entirely on my own with no assistance, putting in 12 hours of non-stop work, caring for the graves of upwards of 25-30 relatives, including both parents in just that one cemetery. Others may question why make such an effort, but now that both of my parents are also interred there, I couldn't live with myself if I hadn't. I have seen locally how bad other sections have gotten, and there simply isn't sufficient staff or funding at the cemetery to address everything, so I do what I can to help preserve how things used to be throughout. I hope that your video yields a favorable improvement in the conditions of these gravesites, through the increased awareness it brings.
You'd assume many of their living relatives know where their last resting place is located? Especially when this area began appearing unkept? I guess they weren't visiting them after so many years. It's a shame how our veterans always seem to be left behind & forgotten! I'm a retired combat vet myself! I guess it only matters to some about their deceased family members? Military veteran or not, it's all sad!
Just wanna let you know how great it is in the world discovered cemeteries the people probably forgotten thank you for all your hard work and I do appreciate all you
There should be a law against letting graveyards get into such a state. I think that what ever county or city that they lie in should at least be made to keep up with mowing and clearing of brush. That is not asking much to show respect to our ancestors.
The whole world is a graveyard. You do realize that, right? Eventually we are going to have to dig bodies out to make room for new ones. Eventually we're going to have to "disrespect" some of our dead ancestors. We already are. Much of America is built on old Indian burial grounds.
I surely hope that you showed this to the Community leadership ,and they are making an effort to get it cleaned up . Our Veterans deserve better, as well as those that also rest there.
Thank you, Jesse, for identifying the location. It appears that there is now a Find-a-Grave site for the cemetery with the names we saw in the video as well as others. Since the extra names have been added, can you tell us if the info came from the church records? www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2471036/memorial-search?page=1#sr-200072831
Robert. Thanks for taking us along. So many forgotten souls. A brave bronze star soldier now forgotten Its just wrong. It would be good to know what happened to this haloed ground
I’ve found some info.... seems that this used to be a cemetery for a church. The county/city bought the land for the highway and promised to move the graves. That never happened. And now it is just forgotten and no one cares for it... not even the families of the people buried there which is the saddest part...
i love cemeterys and i always say their names out loud too .it just calmes the mind walking around a cemetery btw you have a very nice voice to listen to 👍🇳🇱😉
My best friends Dad, worked for the Army Corp of Engineers. He told me,(Back in the 70s) that when they "move" a cemetery, they take 1 cubic foot of dirt from the grave (maybe a cubic yard), & move that to the "prescribed location". He said they didn't actually exhume the bodies & move them. I was shocked to learn that, but that was part of his job.
Wonderful journey but sad. One side of my family is in a small cemetery just off road going into lookout mtn from Gadsden and they have an outhouse in back corner. I've seen couple on utubers cemetery vids in Florida. Yea after rain all day Sunday, I went outside of house and there was a baby copperhead slithering on sidewalk. Where I'm at there's no close water ways 😵. I'd love to be able to join y'all but up in Lawrenceville and gotta work. Blessings guys and safe travels....until next awesome adventure 💒🌬️🤴🌈💞🙏
Hi Beth, are you in Gadsden County, Fl? Ancestors of mine are buried in a small family cemetery outside of Midway. It was almost forgotten about until a local descendant wrote an article about it for the Tallahassee historical society newsletter. Now it is on Find a grave and recorded. I live in Scotland, and the only other known descendant (to me) lives in Pahokee County, Fl. Routine maintenance isn't local for either of us (the lady who wrote the original article has since passed). The Florida based descendant is planning his summer vacation 2020 to specifically take in cemetery maintenance. I'm so grateful he can do this, it's a real worry these family members will be lost to the woods if we can't get people to maintain the graveyard. I'm trying to establish who owns the land now, but it's tricky from across the Atlantic. Those folks in Gentian had no excuse to let that cemetery get like that in 20 odd years time. Robert is a wonderful human being to raise awareness, and drive the recovery of this graveyard. My ancestor's burial ground. www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2241009/beard-cemetery
Can't someone contact city people. These people deserve some kind of respect, especially military. Such a shame. These are human beings... someones loved ones. ✝️😢
I was gonna say, looks like poison ivy.. "leaves of three let it be". Thanks for what you're doing. Looks like a good project for a volunteer group to clean up this cemetery. It's sad to see this sacred place fall into such disrepair.
So very sad! Very happy you are going to go back. Would love to know how many are actually out there and would like to see them uncovered. Thanks for taking us!
Sgt Dawkins won a Bronze Star. This looks to be a great Boy Scout Project. Again, you and the gang are saying their names out loud. They are smiling down on you all!
I had a friend that was in the Vietnam war, told me he was being shot at and was only 21 yrs old and got hit in the leg. He could not walk and loss his platoon, he was scared to death. He woke up the next morning , very cold and raining very hard, he raised his head up and noticed a very venomous snake next to him. He said his leg was in great pain, the snake crawls over his face, but goes on. He soon heard voices from the Vietnamese army and since he was a wounded soilder they would send him home, so he surrended to them. To make a long story short, he was a POW for 6 yrs. and believe me, you do not want to here about those 6 yrs. When he came home the people of USA split on him and called him a baby killer. He told me the only thing that kept him going was the people of this country. I went to his grave last year and it looked so bad and over grown. Do we really appreciate what our veterans has gone through?
That was so sad. I was born in 1963. I can remember when Vietnam ended because it was so nuts. The flower children of that time were freaks. I couldn’t believe how horrible they treated the young men coming back.
In downtown Salt Lake City, they tore down a small business building in order to put in a skyscraper. When they dug down they came across some pioneer graves from 1847 or thereabouts. They relocated them to another cemetery.
3:50 Henry Hunter GA Sergeant US Army WWI WWII b.August 5, 1900 d. July 16, 1964 4:48 Mrs. Henrietta Jones b December 24, 1988 d November 31, 1927 6:01 Favors Dawkins GA pvt FC 28th Infantry WWII BSM b June 13, 1915 d January 1. 1950 6:54 Martha Billings b March 27, 1905 d October 10, 1937 9:55 Eddie Jones b February 3, 1912 d June 20, 1973 10:44 Nancy F Boddie b March 17, 1913 d 1992 12:41 Mary L Wright b September 4, 1907 d February 28, 1989 14:23 Randall Powell b December 25, 1860 d February 28. 1937 15:09 John Frank Howard Pvt FC US Army WWII b 1910 d September 7, 1975 16:09 Richard Howard GA pvt FC US Army Korea b April 10, 1934 d December 24, 1955 17:34 Ms. Minnie B Moore b September 29, 1905 d July 24, 1982 17:55 Horace Moore b November 17, 1925 d September 7, 1985 18:45 Ted Moore b September 30. 1935 d February 20, 1989
Hello Sidestep crew. Really enjoy your video's. I would like to make a suggestion about having the items you need to get in some of the rough area's you visit. Put your machete and collapsible walking stick and whatever else you have found yourself needing in a backpack or other type of bag and just throw it in your vehicle. Then you will have it with you when needed. Again, keep up the good and interesting work you folks do. Take care.
As soon as I have the official Sidestep Adventure-mobile back up and running I’ll keep it fully stocked. Good idea on a collapsible walking stick. That’d make a great snake stick!
Thanks for the video. I thought you'd be interested in the Cemetery Project. Its a genealogical group of volunteers that record old headstones via photos, video's and transfers with pencil /crayon rubbings. (before they are permanently lost)If you go exploring again here or in other cemeteries Please consider helping out by doing those things while you are there and submitting records to them. It might help someone find their ancestors when/where book records fail.
I just found you're videos and I love them! This graveyard is in shameful condition. A lot of people now days don't care about the past or those that preceded them. Life has become too complex and fast.They won't make time for honoring those that came before us....Unless there is a family tradition of honoring the dead or even a matriarch or patriarch in the family ,that honor the dead, graves get forgotten. My family is becoming that way. Once I die, a lot of the deceased will be forgotten by my sisters,nieces,nephews and their offspring. I wish they all would take a little bit of time to think about how they will be forgotten someday...Keep up these videos!
Could be a family cemetery that got neglected when land sold and relatives dwindled and scattered. Happened alot in the south. Cud be more than one family to. ☮️❤️🤗
Glad you brought to lite this abandon cemetery. Can’t wait to see what happens to it, a restoration or cleanup, in the future. You just gained a subscriber.
That's sad😢that this cemetery was just left & forgotten... Veterans & others, Why can't someone have this cemetery cleaned, And fenced? Breaks my heart❤That there are other abandoned cemetaries. This shouldn't be.
Im completely torn on this one. I think is the saddest thing that this cemetary was just abandoned like this but at the same time I think is beautiful so see how they have become one with nature. I like to think they gave life to all those trees and that's beautiful.
You should take your video to the city council and do some MAJOR shaming! It would /should force them to clean it up. I've done that when I discovered forgotten sections of old cemeteries. Shame especially over the treatment of Veterans works wonders. NO ONE deserves to be forgotten so completely ESPECIALLY the soldiers.
how sad for those who are laid to rest there being forgotten in such a manner. I hope you can do something about this guys. Thank you for the adventure.
We’ll definitely be back to investigate and explore this cemetery some more. Better prepared next time. Also, this cemetery appears to not be on Find A Grave, which is a first for me to find.
All said, I was definitely shocked to find this cemetery in this poor condition in the middle of town. If it was out in the middle of no where it wouldn’t have surprised me as much as it did... and how new the graves were. Any locals wanna join me on the next trip to this cemetery?
What city were you in
Sidestep Adventures sensitive on the bushwhacked! L oL
Wish I lived there I would certainly liked to have joined you on the next visit.
Did you end up getting a rash from the poison ivy.
Jen Conn nope, still not allergic.... thankfully
No one deserves to be forgotten. Especially servicemen.
especially anyone!!
Totally agree
Flavio Junior - I agree. This episode is heartbreaking. All graveyards should be maintained so overgrowth does not happen.
The generation that followed these people are now seniors and may not have funding to care for the cemetery and you can forget these young adults - most dont give a damn!
This is what I was thinking as well. That first one he looked at the guy was in both world wars ... and he's in a damn overgrown cemetery like that. Terrible.
6:12 BSM means Bronze Star Medal, and it’s given to brave soldiers for heroic acts during wartime. It’s a shame he’s forgotten.
Wow. Thanks for the info!
Wow! Shame what a shape this is in....
Todd E Walnuts , God knows the forgotten. am
Thanks to this video, he isn't forgotten anymore.
Those tombstones you see in that fashion, are government-issued tombstones for veterans. As already stated BSM stands for bronze star medal. There is a series of initials for awards that these veterans have won such as if the letter say PH he is a recipient of a purple heart, or DSC he is the recipient of a distinguished service cross.
Robert, BSM are not initials. It stands for Bronze Star Medal. It's the 4th highest medal given to Americans in Combat. I have one with "Combat V" for valor along with the Purple Heart.
Tom Boyte,
Gy.Sgt. USMC retired
Vietnam, 65-66/ 70-71
Thank you for your service, sir! 🇺🇲
Thank you for your service, Mr. Boyle. I never new exactly what the significance of the bronze star might be. My father had three of them from WWII but never talked about them at all. It broke my heart to see the forgotten graves of the servicemen. Everyone deserves better than what happened in this cemetary, but I feel extremely melancholy for the veterans.
Thanks for fighting for our freedom! Always will respect you and all the men and women who fight for our country!💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Oorah....Thank You so much for your service, Mr. Boyte!! It's so appreciated more than you know!!!! Semper Fidelis
Thank you for your service Gunny!
As recent as those are they should still have family visiting. Shame on them for not raising hell about the condition. Great find! You guys are so brave.
I agree, but unfortunately the cemetery probably filled up and ran out of room for new graves. With no more money coming in from the sale of plots the operators closed up shop and disappeared. Even in states with laws requiring cemetery operators to set aside money for the care of the grounds after the cemetery fills up, they often don't bother. They just file for bankruptcy and walk away. It's despicable, but it happens.
@@glenncartwright6136 That's so horrible....
It might work like that in some families, but many people have very few close relatives.
@@glenncartwright6136 I find it more disgraceful that authorities don't step in to maintain them, even after previous owner bankruptcy
@@glenncartwright6136The graves are not new. The older ones have family that passed long ago, and the other ones either passed or moved. I don't visit graves of my family who died in the 80s and 90s. I only visit my daughter. In the cemetery where she is, most older grave are not visited anymore
I so badly want to clean this up. Racks, shovels, machete, and work crew and before you know it done. No one deserves to be forgotten. Makes me very sad.
This needs researching through available local resources. It raises a lot of curiosity questions about the ownership and regulatory aspects of cemeteries from a local level and on up.
My calculated guess is that an increasing number of burial sites have simply fallen off the grid.
Some could be abandoned properties, at this point in time.
Our traditions are far less focused on gravesite visits. I wouldn’t know where to find the original family contractual agreements for family plot purchases. These probably disappeared decades ago when the final, final safety deposit and lock boxes were emptied, and contents were misplaced or discarded.
The generations making reliable duty visits to the cemetery have vanished.
In the absence of many watchful eyes and active communication between cemetery management and family plot owners, things happen.
@@janicelmckee After 7 years if the family members can not be reach or are no longer visiting the grave that body can and will be dug up for the plot to be sold for the next person i know this for a fact !!!
Cathy....You will be gone . Do not worry about being forgotten in this world. In 2 generations, if humanity survives, they can have a hologram of you to remember you by. You are eternal . Da Koala knows !!! *~;)
Its called Perpetual Care. A portion of the cost of burial should be held for upkeep - maintenance. Take note of where you purchase plots and ask questions!
@@nickbeam5432 What state do you live in??? Those grounds should be registered to alert local and federal law enforcement. Even if it is privately owned doing such a thing in the State of Virginia is a criminal offense. OMG!
As long as this video is here on RUclips, all these people will never be forgotten!!! Thank you guys for documenting this and hope their loved ones will see this and help restore this sacred ground to its glory!!!
How can a town forget about a cemetery, with veterans graves that served their country. ??? 🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷
Happens all the time, but the location and relatively recent burials do make this unusual.
Democrats!!
It’s ugly, isn’t it. I’m about to embark on some general research, but I believe that some cemeteries were privately owned. Family plot purchases more than likely were contractual and included maintenance provisions. In the normal course of events, anything is possible. I believe that I’ve read about burial properties that have gone into foreclosure and they are sometimes abandoned altogether. But, with a myriad of plot purchases or long term leases, a municipality would be inclined to let things slide because of arduous legal complications. I imagine that surviving families would be pitched into a state of heated protest at the thought of any gravesite disturbances. Suffice to say, the only place that this can head is into lasting disgruntlement.
They were African American. Those soldiers were not treated well when they actually served either.
@@janicelmckee There are different laws and practices in every state and country. In doing genealogy research I found where my ancestors graves were removed because of age. I've heard that in some counties if you do not keep up payments to keep a family plot it will be destroyed an another family can take over. I feel like any graves / stones should be saved whether on private property or not. We can do better than that as a society.
I am thinking that this and other Cemetery's would be an ideal project for Boy Scouts/retirees/ a crew of VFW old timers. Armed with chain saws/rakes/weed whackers on a weekend it would be whipped into shape . I would also flag all graves to make it easier to find them again. Thanks again Side Step crew!
Great idea to flag them. Less likely to step and break a fallen stone while walking through.
Actually, I think people incarcerated and community service ordered people should get busy.
@@sofiadober7393 I agree but the city and families should have never let it get this bad.
Thats a terrific idea!
Yes, good Eagle Scout project
Happy Birthday to Favors Dawkins. 104! and thanks for your service to our country! 6/13/19
BSM means he earned a bronze star medal! Hero material 💖
Really sad that these graves have been forgotten. In the early 1980's I was an over the road salesman for a company in Wisconsin. I traveled the back roads in the Northwoods and ran across many llttle country cemeteries. I always stopped and checked them out. But none were as forgotten as this one is. Sad!
Thanks for taking us along. What you may have witnessed is a sign of the times. People seem to
care less and less about the past and it's lessons to us. I am an old Georgian and during my lifetime
I have seen many of these old places completely disappear. So sad!
You gentlemen are wonderful and so respectful...thank you!
Thank you
I agree. I was going to mention the same thing.
Thank you for. being so respectful, it really bothered me when you said they built the road over peoples graves.💐
So sad....nobody should be forgotten! ☹️
Kelli White - Very true. A lot of people spent large amounts of money for the traditional trappings that seemingly assure the immortalization of loved ones. Unfortunately, this is just another sales spoof. Times and customs have radically changed.
As with condos and time shares, unless everyone responsibly pays up and participates, the whole scheme falls apart.
Some plot contracts may have had time limits on cemetery-related services. Who knows. The entire topic is a study in it’s own right.
I try to be philosophical. If we love, care for our family members during their days, and provide a respectful and honorable l send-off for them at the end of their days, we’ve done well.
We have very limited control over their mortal remains, and even our own. Let’s hope that these people were not forgotten during their lives. Given the number of Veterans, this is unlikely.
My favorite balm for this particular wound is to be supportive, in the moment, of the Veterans still among us.
So sad to see a cemetery in such ruins. I am especially sad to see the veterans graves so un kept. Thank you for sharing and remembering them.
You might wanna get in touch with VFW Post about the military Graves
I belong to the VFW and we dont have any direct affiliation with any organization that would be remotely interested in saving graves. Unfortunately :( I to would love to go and help clean up the forgotten cementeries. So sad. I dad qualified to be buried in a "national cementary".
@@leighannhoagberg1891 Try the VA Administration. The scouts wont do it either. My cousin is a scoutmaster. I'll ask him. 😀
@@leighannhoagberg1891 Here's the VA link: www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-special-burial.asp
Also thinking there's a governing body over cemeteries. Here's the link: www.cfb.ca.gov/
@@leighannhoagberg1891 😀🙋♀️
Even as an Australian ... to see a WWI & WW2 veterans graves forgotten , to me disturbing
We had one just like this just outside current day downtown Houston back in the early 1990's. It was originally a slave cemetery that remained active until the 60's or so. Circa 1992, a group of people either remembered or discovered it and mounted a tremendous cleanup effort. What is sadder than its abandoned and neglected state was what happened when it was cleaned up. it didn't take long for the local thugs to desecrate nearly every grave, and it's not a small cemetery. I toured the place with a group less than a year after the cleanup and nature was already in the process of reclaiming it. Vaulted burials were broken open and bones scattered about, including one intact skull that I nearly stepped on. Some graves even showed signs of being deliberately dug up. Perhaps it's best that this place is left forgotten and nature in charge of protecting those who rest.
Thank you.... this is exactly why I do not list even Cemetery locations publicly on these videos. Especially one in this current state. I have been to several off the beaten path cemeteries that have been heavily vandalized. Thankfully this one isn’t so much in the middle of no where as it is just covered up.
I can't even imagine that there are people who would do something like that!
@drowned rat Some sick sobs loose in the world
armed stake out units and 12 ga 000 buckshot come to mind
as a certain western anti hero said "some people just need killing"
That's why these places names are usually NOT told....so satanic vandals will not descrate them...duh...
I think people today have no respect for God or the dead. We live in an evil society
Great video ,so very sad to see it in such a forgotten state, look forward to when you go back and help to remember some of these poor people be remembered. Thank you Robert
Thank you.
One of the saddest sights I've seen. Where are the families and friends of people buried here in the 80's and 90's? Would the city not have some responsibility for a cemetery in the middle of town?!
They often sell out to cities.
Some people have no friends or families, especially older folks. I, for one, have neither family nor friends and have no idea where I can even afford to be buried. No one will visit my grave much less clean it up! These things happen in life. There are many twists in the road.
@Sheryl Wood I would go being cremated I already have instructions to be dumped out into a certain ocean I know it’s a bummer topic but it has to be done.Most of my family is cremated
Who gona carry a urn around for 3 or 4 Genarations . Not to may . As sad as that is to say .
Maybe have no friends or families or maybe they are in other country etc.
This is so very sad to see. Hope you contact your city officials. Ask them what the heck is going on! No cemetery should be this forgotten. There are organizations that would love to know about this place. Send your video to your congressman. Make this public in your area. So glad you decided to check it out. Bless you and the lost souls of this cemetery.
It truly saddens me to see a cemetery being neglected abandoned or forgotten. Its so not right. It breaks my heart to see that even the veterans buried here were forgotten. I can't imagine some of the graves were paved over for a highway. I could believe they did that. I am Catholic but i chose cremation when the time comes just scatter my ashes. Thank you for all you do. Take care.
Robert, for a young man I commend you for your interest, determination and respect as you discover and reveal these sad resting places of people long forgotten, but who shouldn’t be. When I saw the graves of those poor men, one of whom fought two world wars AS WELL as in Korea, and to have his remains left and disregarded like this I think is a real shame and to me, a disgusting lack of respect he deserves. I do hope you are able to bring this particular cemetery to the attention of someone in authority, and it can be cleared, tidied up whatever, without visiting vandals afterwards,as one person mentioned.
It’s fascinating to “go with you all “ on these adventures, and long may you continue.
Warmest regards and best wishes to you all from the U.K. Helen 👍👏🏻👏🏻😘
Aloha S.S.A.! I agree, with your estimatation of the growth, looks like those skinny trees are about 30 yrs old. Could be that 30yrs ago was when the caretaker passed away..It would be interesting to find out who owns the land, & maybe get permission for a Boy Scout troop to do a cleaning project there??
Those trees are probably no more than 15 to no more than 20 years old. Things grow incredibly fast in the south
@@unrulyjulie4382 More like 2-3 years down here in Texas
@@navigator1383 ... Well yes, you're correct. I'm in Texas too. I live west of Fort Worth now, but used to live in East Texas. Trees can definitely grow that fast in East Texas and probably Georgia too. I didn't want to seem like I was exaggerating 😀
Thank you so much for the tour of this historic cemetery. So many military buried their with no acknowledgement from the VA groups? I appreciate you looked so closely at each gravestone and toilet plumbing.
All those veterans!! Glad you guys are giving these people some respect. Thank you!
I agree with everyone who's posted here -- how could the town let this graveyard get in such bad shape?
Yep, I agree too....
So sad, some of those folks only died 25 ish years ago and already lost and forgotten by their families,,, Tragic,,,, Thank you x
What the hell is wrong with the state of Georgia even having the audacity to even do this!! If i had family members in this cemetery id be having a law suit over it!! The state needs to get it back in respectful condition!!
Thanks for posting and bringing the country to the awareness of this issue!!
The "BSM" on Favors Dawkins' tombstone probably indicates that he was a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal. It is awarded to "any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service,..." And now he is gone and forgotten.
Despicable, that the city/county has abandoned this cemetery.... smh!
This was a private church cemetery
Forward this video to a local news station or newspaper. They would be able to do something with the story. Especially considering all of the veterans buried there.
Something definitely needs to be done! What a disgrace that this happened!
Great idea!
Yes a brilliant idea this needs to be addressed cause it is a disgrace and there are vets in there which will push this faster to resolve
This is such a shame. It saddens me that some black American graveyards are neglected. Someone needs to take the initiative to clean it up and mark it. Maybe with your video a change will come for the better. Thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention. God bless you, Robert, Brain and Cody, and your families.
Thank you. Yes, it definitely needs to cleaned up. Honestly it should be the responsibility of the families who have people buried there and the city. Not to mention whoever the land is deeded to, which it is probably county land listed as a cemetery. I haven’t confirmed that yet though.
that you could find a name and deed for this place at the courthouse? Maybe get a few names off the stones and look up the obits. Maybe there you can find a funeral home name to contact. Keep us posted as to what you find. I'm in Virginia and not able to help you or I would.Is it possible
I just posted above. The cemetery belonged to a church. The church still exists in that town. Even if the land was taken by eminent domain, it seems the church should still maintain it. From their Facebook page:
“Smith Grove Is Located At 6550 Carr Street.Established 129 Years Ago By 8 Members.It Is Pastored By The Rev.Melvin E. Perry.”
This is so much disrespect to all these people who are buried here
it is because they are bkaaaaackkk
whaaaaaaaaaa
Just found your channel! Thanks for sharing your local history. Thanks for helping to preserve it with your videos. Who ever raised you must be proud. Keep on exploring and sharing!
Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems almost fitting. We are from the earth and to the earth we shall return. I kind of like the idea of ending up in the woods. It’s my favorite place to be.
Love your adventures. Reminds me of a cemetery nearby on the coast of CA. Purissima was a town abandoned and also had a cemetery. Someone now is trying to fix it up.
The 1973 didn't surprise me but the 1989 and1992 did.
I was going to say that based on the size of the overgrowth, it hasn't been left in neglect for too long. Maybe 20 years.
I graduated high school in 72, so 73 seems like yesterday
Always a great adventure!! Thank you for all your hard work. This one was very sad. 😢👍
Yes it was and is...
Very sad to see this cemetery in this shape. Good find!!
with the veterans here report to the local vfw and veterans dept. boys scouts also would be a good eagle scout project
So sad xx thank you for the video you done a brill job xx😊😊
This is just one of about 90 plus such "lost" cemeteries within the Muscogee County limits. The city takes no responsibility of these cemeteries; they consider them all as abandoned property. It's sad, and deplorable....but that's the way it is...until enough of us raise hell with the powers that be.
That is terrible.
Shame on Muscogee County officials.
Can no one find out who owns this property? What a shame it's forgotten like this. A lot of Veterans buried here. Next time don't forget safety glasses y'all. Thanks for the video. I hope it can be cleaned up. God bless y'all.
Thank you for posting this. Someone who needed to see it must have. Husband and I visited the site just yesterday. IT LOOKS GREAT now. All cleaned up. Several more graves now visible, and brush and most trees gone. Fall leaves now blanket the ground and it feels like an open, peaceful, respectful place.
Thank you again. We have no personal connection to church or those resting there but we wanted to see if anything had been done. Pleased it has.
Happy to send a few pics at some point.
How sad that is nobody should be forgotten 😪
Sidestep adventures I appreciate that you go and look at these places, homes, businesses and especially the cemeteries so that all can be brought back to life momentarily so that people will know that they are there. It is a shame that these people have been forgotten and or just not taken care of. Whatever the reason for the cemeteries to fall in to such neglect, I am glad that you are able to find them. No one should be forgotten. Thank you.
Unbelievable ! I cried while watching this. Truly heartbreaking to see the shape this place is in, especially the graves of the Veterans ! Please, please do a follow up video if you get anymore information on this sad,sad cemetery. These people deserve to be remembered.
I am definitely going back as soon as I am able. After I go back and see further for myself I am going to bring it to greater attention of the community and see if I can get it cleaned up.
Listen I read these comments and replies don't let 1 person discourage you BLOCK him and forget about it he's just an A-S you Brian Cody and your friends do a great job on these videos ! I wish I was younger I'd love to come adventuring w/u all God Bless you please keep answering the good comments and questions that's what makes you you You care about the old things most ppl take for granted you see the beauty in it it comes alive in your eyes and so you bring that to us and Thank You for that ♥️🇺🇸🙏😇😊❣️
I appreciate your words. I don’t know what comment you’re referring to, but I tend not to let negative comments get to me. No matter what you do or make videos about, someone on RUclips is going to try to give you a hard time or be negative. I had one guy just recently leave nasty comments on 4 of my videos, insulting everything from what I was doing to me personally. What that told me is he was actually a fan of the videos! He watched 4 or more. Anyway, people really shouldn’t waste their time writing out nasty or negative comments cuz if I see them I just delete them and smile a bit when I do it.
Such a shame! Hopefully it gets attention soon
I'm in the UK unfortunately or I'd be there like a shot! Just thinking though, one of the many things I love about Americans is the love and respect you show your veterans..is there any local military base you could get involved because of the Vets in there? Much respect to you guys x
This is heartbreaking these veterans deserve a flag and their families visiting them. Can we call and complain to someone? Just let us know and I’m ready to dial them up! 😢
Possibly I’m looking into that.
Well what yall find out ???
Thanks for your caring hearts
My mom and I used to clean up family graves and take flowers every year. Since she passed, I've continued the tradition. I'm going to be cremated and request no service.
You can have visitation the same day you're buried an hour later at the grave...or just a Graveside service...
This place is amazing! Thanks for the great video!👍
Thank you
I looked up Favors Dawkins on Ancestry.com. Found the application for his military headstone. It states that he is buried in the "Smith Grove Cemetery", Gentian, Georgia (nearest post office Columbus, Georgia). Dawkins was awarded the Bronze Star and Good Conduct medals. There was a church on the site at one time.
How sad that the state has just forgotten about them. Especially Service Men. Very sad and right in the middle of town. I hear the traffic
And family to visit and leave flowers and flags for the veterans
I just discovered your presence on YT yesterday, via your abandoned CofG Railway right-of-way exploration. The subject matter of this video is one I can relate to, having been involved with the care of numerous family cemetery plots in SW Washington State for much of my life, at least for the past 30 years. While my late parents and I went above and beyond the norm of treating the final resting places of our relatives like an extension of our garden (leaving numerous planters and adding other bedding plants to the bases of the headstones for Memorial Day and in the fall, cleaning/polishing the granite headstones, etc.), many other families have not had anyone to honor the memories of those that have passed in that way. Either there is no one nearby, or age/infirmity have limited one's involvement. Then again, it's just as probable that there simply is no interest in those that could do the work - which is the most depressing possibilty. Everyone has a story, lived a life, and in most cases, is worthy of being remembered and afforded the respect of keeping their likely sole remaining connection to this world preserved. After not being able to tend to this responsibility for three years, I finally resumed the tradition earlier this week, entirely on my own with no assistance, putting in 12 hours of non-stop work, caring for the graves of upwards of 25-30 relatives, including both parents in just that one cemetery. Others may question why make such an effort, but now that both of my parents are also interred there, I couldn't live with myself if I hadn't. I have seen locally how bad other sections have gotten, and there simply isn't sufficient staff or funding at the cemetery to address everything, so I do what I can to help preserve how things used to be throughout. I hope that your video yields a favorable improvement in the conditions of these gravesites, through the increased awareness it brings.
You'd assume many of their living relatives know where their last resting place is located? Especially when this area began appearing unkept? I guess they weren't visiting them after so many years. It's a shame how our veterans always seem to be left behind & forgotten!
I'm a retired combat vet myself! I guess it only matters to some about their deceased family members? Military veteran or not, it's all sad!
It truly is so sad...
Just wanna let you know how great it is in the world discovered cemeteries the people probably forgotten thank you for all your hard work and I do appreciate all you
There should be a law against letting graveyards get into such a state. I think that what ever county or city that they lie in should at least be made to keep up with mowing and clearing of brush. That is not asking much to show respect to our ancestors.
Cathy W Rager Some religious traditions require graves to be neglected, and graveyards to be abandoned as soon as they are full.
@@piggybank4875 That doesn't make sense
Jules Servant of Jesus It might not make sense to you, but to adherents of those religions, it makes perfect sense to abandon full graveyards.
The whole world is a graveyard. You do realize that, right? Eventually we are going to have to dig bodies out to make room for new ones. Eventually we're going to have to "disrespect" some of our dead ancestors. We already are. Much of America is built on old Indian burial grounds.
This was/is a private cemetery.
I surely hope that you showed this to the Community leadership ,and they are making an effort to get it cleaned up . Our Veterans deserve better, as well as those that also rest there.
This IS a shame. Perhaps some light will be shone on this.
This was so outstanding and interesting. Thank you for bringing this to us
Smith Grove Church Cemetery, Gentian Georgia
Thank you, Jesse, for identifying the location. It appears that there is now a Find-a-Grave site for the cemetery with the names we saw in the video as well as others. Since the extra names have been added, can you tell us if the info came from the church records? www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2471036/memorial-search?page=1#sr-200072831
I was thrilled to find someone has investigated and placed these people on Find-A-grave. Thank you to the person who was so thoughtful.
Robert. Thanks for taking us along. So many forgotten souls. A brave bronze star soldier now forgotten Its just wrong. It would be good to know what happened to this haloed ground
I’ve found some info.... seems that this used to be a cemetery for a church. The county/city bought the land for the highway and promised to move the graves. That never happened. And now it is just forgotten and no one cares for it... not even the families of the people buried there which is the saddest part...
i love cemeterys and i always say their names out loud too .it just calmes the mind walking around a cemetery btw you have a very nice voice to listen to 👍🇳🇱😉
If you can get the cemetery listed on find a grave others would visit and maybe help clean it up.
My best friends Dad, worked for the Army Corp of Engineers. He told me,(Back in the 70s) that when they "move" a cemetery, they take 1 cubic foot of dirt from the grave (maybe a cubic yard), & move that to the "prescribed location". He said they didn't actually exhume the bodies & move them. I was shocked to learn that, but that was part of his job.
I live in Alpharetta and am willing to go help clean this up! Shoot me a message when you plan to go back.
Thank you so much for these kind of videos, always wanted to explore abandon cemeteries then plan to renovate them.
Wonderful journey but sad. One side of my family is in a small cemetery just off road going into lookout mtn from Gadsden and they have an outhouse in back corner. I've seen couple on utubers cemetery vids in Florida. Yea after rain all day Sunday, I went outside of house and there was a baby copperhead slithering on sidewalk. Where I'm at there's no close water ways 😵. I'd love to be able to join y'all but up in Lawrenceville and gotta work. Blessings guys and safe travels....until next awesome adventure 💒🌬️🤴🌈💞🙏
Hi Beth, are you in Gadsden County, Fl? Ancestors of mine are buried in a small family cemetery outside of Midway. It was almost forgotten about until a local descendant wrote an article about it for the Tallahassee historical society newsletter. Now it is on Find a grave and recorded.
I live in Scotland, and the only other known descendant (to me) lives in Pahokee County, Fl. Routine maintenance isn't local for either of us (the lady who wrote the original article has since passed). The Florida based descendant is planning his summer vacation 2020 to specifically take in cemetery maintenance. I'm so grateful he can do this, it's a real worry these family members will be lost to the woods if we can't get people to maintain the graveyard. I'm trying to establish who owns the land now, but it's tricky from across the Atlantic.
Those folks in Gentian had no excuse to let that cemetery get like that in 20 odd years time. Robert is a wonderful human being to raise awareness, and drive the recovery of this graveyard.
My ancestor's burial ground. www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2241009/beard-cemetery
@@loriscotia sorry but it's actually in north Alabama
Can't someone contact city people. These people deserve some kind of respect, especially military. Such a shame. These are human beings... someones
loved ones. ✝️😢
I was gonna say, looks like poison ivy.. "leaves of three let it be". Thanks for what you're doing. Looks like a good project for a volunteer group to clean up this cemetery. It's sad to see this sacred place fall into such disrepair.
So very sad! Very happy you are going to go back. Would love to know how many are actually out there and would like to see them uncovered. Thanks for taking us!
Sgt Dawkins won a Bronze Star. This looks to be a great Boy Scout Project. Again, you and the gang are saying their names out loud. They are smiling down on you all!
Good idea but would probably end up with a scout troop all suffering from poison ivy. LOL
Just wanted to let you know we have just found your channel and we love your videos. We love old cemeteries and you do an amazing job.
go to the city mayor and ask WTF
The property is NOT city owned.
It’s private property. The church has that responsibility. It’s sad how some churches not disregard the past 😞
yes, but SOMEBODY has to pay the taxes on that land, so it is someone's responsibility.
Follow the tax/money to find out who
even to clean it, one needs permission,
or else they face tresspassing accusations/fines
there's NO EXCUSE for this kind of neglect!!
Disgusting
Absolutely sicking that these people are forgotten....city officials should be ashamed of themselves. Thank you for bringing these to the forefront..
I had a friend that was in the Vietnam war, told me he was being shot at and was only 21 yrs old and got hit in the leg. He could not walk and loss his platoon, he was scared to death. He woke up the next morning , very cold and raining very hard, he raised his head up and noticed a very venomous snake next to him. He said his leg was in great pain, the snake crawls over his face, but goes on. He soon heard voices from the Vietnamese army and since he was a wounded soilder they would send him home, so he surrended to them. To make a long story short, he was a POW for 6 yrs. and believe me, you do not want to here about those 6 yrs. When he came home the people of USA split on him and called him a baby killer. He told me the only thing that kept him going was the people of this country. I went to his grave last year and it looked so bad and over grown. Do we really appreciate what our veterans has gone through?
That was so sad. I was born in 1963. I can remember when Vietnam ended because it was so nuts. The flower children of that time were freaks. I couldn’t believe how horrible they treated the young men coming back.
In downtown Salt Lake City, they tore down a small business building in order to put in a skyscraper. When they dug down they came across some pioneer graves from 1847 or thereabouts. They relocated them to another cemetery.
3:50 Henry Hunter GA Sergeant US Army WWI WWII b.August 5, 1900 d. July 16, 1964
4:48 Mrs. Henrietta Jones b December 24, 1988 d November 31, 1927
6:01 Favors Dawkins GA pvt FC 28th Infantry WWII BSM b June 13, 1915 d January 1. 1950
6:54 Martha Billings b March 27, 1905 d October 10, 1937
9:55 Eddie Jones b February 3, 1912 d June 20, 1973
10:44 Nancy F Boddie b March 17, 1913 d 1992
12:41 Mary L Wright b September 4, 1907 d February 28, 1989
14:23 Randall Powell b December 25, 1860 d February 28. 1937
15:09 John Frank Howard Pvt FC US Army WWII b 1910 d September 7, 1975
16:09 Richard Howard GA pvt FC US Army Korea b April 10, 1934 d December 24, 1955
17:34 Ms. Minnie B Moore b September 29, 1905 d July 24, 1982
17:55 Horace Moore b November 17, 1925 d September 7, 1985
18:45 Ted Moore b September 30. 1935 d February 20, 1989
Hello Sidestep crew. Really enjoy your video's. I would like to make a suggestion about having the items you need to get in some of the rough area's you visit. Put your machete and collapsible walking stick and whatever else you have found yourself needing in a backpack or other type of bag and just throw it in your vehicle. Then you will have it with you when needed. Again, keep up the good and interesting work you folks do. Take care.
As soon as I have the official Sidestep Adventure-mobile back up and running I’ll keep it fully stocked. Good idea on a collapsible walking stick. That’d make a great snake stick!
What a shame, that people can just be forgotten ?
Thanks for the video. I thought you'd be interested in the Cemetery Project. Its a genealogical group of volunteers that record old headstones via photos, video's and transfers with pencil /crayon rubbings. (before they are permanently lost)If you go exploring again here or in other cemeteries Please consider helping out by doing those things while you are there and submitting records to them. It might help someone find their ancestors when/where book records fail.
I live in Georgia. I may have missed the location if you already mentioned it, but where is this cemetery?
Smith Cemetery,Gentian ,Columbus,Ga.
I just found you're videos and I love them! This graveyard is in shameful condition. A lot of people now days don't care about the past or those that preceded them. Life has become too complex and fast.They won't make time for honoring those that came before us....Unless there is a family tradition of honoring the dead or even a matriarch or patriarch in the family ,that honor the dead, graves get forgotten. My family is becoming that way. Once I die, a lot of the deceased will be forgotten by my sisters,nieces,nephews and their offspring. I wish they all would take a little bit of time to think about how they will be forgotten someday...Keep up these videos!
Interesting Robert.
This one leaves us curious. ! If you learn more about this one be sure & let us know.
I will for sure. I’m learning as much as I can and preparing for the next visit!
Thank you for finding and acknowledging the pass
Could be a family cemetery that got neglected when land sold and relatives dwindled and scattered. Happened alot in the south. Cud be more than one family to. ☮️❤️🤗
Glad you brought to lite this abandon cemetery. Can’t wait to see what happens to it, a restoration or cleanup, in the future. You just gained a subscriber.
Great story, very sad though, can you apply for a city grant and pay people to get that cleaned up. Its very shameful.
That's sad😢that this cemetery was just left & forgotten... Veterans & others, Why can't someone have this cemetery cleaned, And fenced? Breaks my heart❤That there are other abandoned cemetaries.
This shouldn't be.
These military men deserve so much better then to be forgotten like this
The forgotten souls. That's sad :-( great video!!
Much luv from Oregon
You should go on Facebook or other social media sites and see if you can find any relatives of these ppl.
Im completely torn on this one. I think is the saddest thing that this cemetary was just abandoned like this but at the same time I think is beautiful so see how they have become one with nature. I like to think they gave life to all those trees and that's beautiful.
That's exactly the way it should be. Meticulously maintained lawns for something like a cemetery are awful for native plants and insects.
You should take your video to the city council and do some MAJOR shaming! It would /should force them to clean it up.
I've done that when I discovered forgotten sections of old cemeteries. Shame especially over the treatment of Veterans works wonders.
NO ONE deserves to be forgotten so completely ESPECIALLY the soldiers.
I’ve got some plans, but not until after I go back.
how sad for those who are laid to rest there being forgotten in such a manner. I hope you can do something about this guys. Thank you for the adventure.
I’m gonna do my best!