The Stafford County Cemetery Committee conducted a memorial service for Tech. Sgt. Leonard A. Jones on June 6, 2010 at the Hartwood Presbyterian Church. Sgt. Jones was killed in the line of duty on September 24, 1944 participating in actions near Normandy following the D Day landing in June of that year.
Sgt. Jones was brought to the attention of the Cemetery Committee several months ago when Emmanuel Delaville contacted the Committee through our website. Mr. Delaville lives near Normandy, France and is a World War II historian. He was looking for more information about Sgt. Jones, who is considered a local hero in France. Before receiving the email from Mr. Delaville, in far away France, Sgt. Jones’ heroic action was unknown to his native Stafford County.
The Stafford County Cemetery Committee decided that a memorial to Sgt. Jones would be a way of recognizing his bravery and commitment to freedom.
A big thanks to Rusty Dennen of the Free Lance Star for the article he did for Tec/Sgt. Jones' memorial. Also Many Thanks to Rev Shawn Smith for his prayer and the Quantico Young Marines for presenting the colors and the laying of the wreath on Tec/Sgt. Jones's grave.
Over 50 people attended the memorial, despite the terrible heat, and because of the newspaper article, 10 of Leonard's distant relatives were able to pay their respects to his memory. A couple of our older residents of Stafford County were also in attendance and shared their memories and stories of their interaction with him, which was delightfully unexpected. Photos of the event will uploaded soon!
SCCC Adopt-A-Cemetery Coordinator, Linda Beles, reports that Logan Carpenter, of Boy Scout Troop # 1425, will be performing a clean up of the Musselman Cemetery, located on Wagonwood Road,as his community project to complete his Eagle Scout requirements.
The Hammett Family Cemetery, near Holly Corner Road, has had additional individuals added to its list of adopters to provide more continual maintenance.
The O'Bryhim Family Cemetery has been chosen by local Boy Scout, Bradley Miller, as his community project to complete his Eagle Scout requirements. He will coordinate a cleanup and restoration of the overgrown cemetery, which is located past the end of the runway at the Stafford Regional Airport. Linda and Anita Dodd will be meeting with Bradley in the near future to go over the details and bring together the plans to overhaul this neglected cemetery .
Also, 2 cemeteries, the Harrison Cemetery on Courthouse Road and the Kendall Cemetery in Vista Woods Subdivision, have been adopted by Todd Younger for long term maintenance.
Linda Belles is organizing a meeting with a local Boy Scout leader who wants to maintain cemeteries with his troop in addition to his family maintaining one and another meeting with a local Girl Scout troop who wants to adopt a cemetery.
Our Thanks to these wonderful people for joining us in caring for the cemeteries of Stafford County. We hope that they will find the experience interesting and know that their participation will help to beautify the cemeteries where so many of our county early citizens are buried.
