In the small English town of Bacup, numerous WWI graves are seeing restoration at the hands of military veterans. This is a necessary act of charity, as many of the tombstones there are predominantly unmarked. Now, appropriate research is being done so that this issue can be corrected. By the time the veterans have finished, this problem is expected to have been reconciled with all WWI graves in and around Bacup.
Some of the research used exists in the form of broadsheets and correspondence from the era, which will be compiled into a time capsule as part of the project. There will also be a push to plant floral life such as poppies, which are customarily planted around WWI graves due to their symbolism (they are one of the only plants which was able to grow in war-torn areas referred to as “no man’s land.” Not only will cemeteries yield more accurate information when the project is finished, but they will hopefully be nicer to look at as well.
Every step of the project is done in the name of memorial. By providing information on headstones and creating a time capsule which is to be opened in one hundred years, the project ensures that people will be able to honor the memories of those who populate the WWI graves central to the project. The flowers and other assorted plant life will then help influence people to visit the cemeteries and spend some time there, The Bolton News reports.
There are over one hundred headstones in the cemeteries of Bacup which need to be serviced. Those involved are well prepared, with maps to keep track of where they have worked. Veterans in Communities, the charity responsible for the project regarding the WWI graves, is posting signs around Bacup so as to make their project as public as possible and keep their community informed about their mission. They are anticipating that the project could take at least six months, and are aiming for a completion date of November 9th, which is Remembrance Sunday.
Some of the WWI graves were already in decent shape or had information on them, but now they will be refurbished in a way that will make the cemeteries look a little bit more uniform. Every grave will have a similar plaque, which will be placed carefully out of respect for those who lie below. The veterans of Bacup are excited to complete the WWI graves and bury the time capsule so that the legacy of their relatives will be preserved for future generations.