THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 9, 1995 TAG: 9507070634
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
I would like to express my appreciation to Emanuel AME Church for reaching out to the Swanson Homes Community and our children.
During the week of June 19-23 they opened their doors and welcomed our children to their vacation Bible school that week.
I also want to say thank you to Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority for providing transportation that week for our children. Our children really enjoyed themselves. They excitedly talked about what they learned and the songs they sang.
It was 37 children nightly, eagerly waiting to go to the church.
Then on July 24, Emanuel AME church gave the children a cook-out at City Park. PRHA provided the transportation there also.
Truly we appreciate all that worked together to make this possible.
We need more churches reaching out to public housing neighborhoods such as Emanuel did.
Dorita Epps
Swanson Homes
June 30, 1995 Cemeteries need care
The cemeteries of our city where our ancestors, friends and neighbors are buried are, in my opinion, consecrated ground. The headstones and monuments so worthy stand alone . . . or, in too many instances, lay . . . forgotten.
What can be ultimately more sad and futile than to have lived a life, experiencing the triumphs and tragedies, the joys and the sorrows of mortals, to have breathed and to have touched, and then . . . to pass on to anonymity and have our final resting places desecrated by vandals and neglect.
Nearly as bad as vandals, if not worse, is to allow these places to deteriorate beyond repair. If you care, take a walk through Cedar Grove cemetery and view first hand the deplorable condition of that hallowed ground. But be careful where you step because some of the graves are caving in to the point of extreme hazard and some of the monuments and tombs may fall at the slightest disturbance.
Cedar Grove has been designated a National Historical Landmark; however, there is not a sign or plaque that states this fact. And perhaps this is rightfully so because it is truly a disaster area. It was designated a National Historical Landmark because of the art work on the stones and monuments and these are being constantly destroyed by vandals. Recently the headstones of Rev. Winfield and his wife were destroyed. He only served as the rector of Trinity Church for 50 years. What a shame!
Other cemeteries in the city face similar problems.
If you care, contact or write the city manager and members of City Council and request immediate corrective action to restore and maintain the facilities, and curtail the vandalism. If you do not, who will? Our ancestors deserve better and our city must do better!
If we are to have a vision of 2005, then we must care for and protect our heritage, for truly there will be no future unless we respect and honor the past.
M.H. Morris
Hodges Ferry Road
June 29, 1995 Tennis cutline in fault
The article and pictures on V. Wayne Orton were great, but the picture of him on the tennis court was inaccurate.
As all of us ``amateur tennis pros'' know, he was serving the ball not stretching for a ``tough return'' as reported in the paper.
Flip Boyette
3300 Tyre Neck Road
July 3, 1995 by CNB