The new Veterans Monument sits at the edge of the newly dedicated plots at Mt. Pleasant Greenwood Cemetery.
Waylon O’Donnell | Daily Journal
A new monument that honors individuals who have served in the United States military was unveiled on Veterans Day at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Greenwood.
The monument features the insignias of every military branch, the state of Indiana, the United States and the symbol of prisoners of war and missing in action. The structure’s dedication was partnered with 1,000 new plots specifically reserved for veterans and their significant others.
Sexton James Hayworth said that the idea was spurred after they developed a new area in the cemetery that added several plots. A sexton is a person who looks after a church and churchyard.
“Since we have opened the new section, I knew that we needed to do something for the veterans,” Hayworth said. “We’ve got three or four veterans on our cemetery board. It means a bunch to the veterans still alive to be honored.”
Six black ledgers will also be established near the monument that will feature all of the veterans’ names that are either buried in the new or the older part of the cemetery.
The ledgers are expected to be placed during the middle of 2024.
Rev. Cleon Wright, a minister at Mt. Carmel Christian Church in Trafalgar, was asked to speak during Saturday’s dedication. His sermon highlighted tales of Abraham Lincoln and the importance of honoring the Veteran community.
He finished his lecture by reciting the Gettysburg Address.
Wright also mentioned the significance of a well-kept cemetery such as Mt. Pleasant.
“I was told that if you ever wondered where to go to church, drive by the cemetery and see how well it is kept,” Wright said. “If it is kept well, it is a good community for you to go to. When we are very young, and whenever we are very old and leave our bodies, how we are treated is a test of true character.”
Several individuals had already purchased prearrangements in the new area, he said.
The ceremony also featured the Johnson County Sherriff’s Office as the honor guard, Boy Scout Troop 2640 and Pack 264 as well as members of the American Legion. Indianapolis-based Thomas Monument donated the display.
Johnson County Sherriff Duane Burgess, who also serves on the cemetery’s board, said that the dedication ceremony had been planned for a few months.
“Several board members have worked diligently on the project,” Burgess said. “The cemetery is limited on how we can grow in space, but we wanted to show our appreciation to the men and women who did so much for our freedom. My parents are buried there and that cemetery means a lot to me. To have that veterans area means a lot to each individual board member.”
About 40 people attended the ceremony on Veteran’s Day to pay homage to those who have served.
“The cemetery has been here since 1830,” Hayworth said. “We have got all sorts of veterans in here including from the Revolutionary and the Civil War.”
