Lack of care at Osceola cemetery leaves family frustrated

OSCEOLA, Ind. -- Osceola Cemetery sits on the corner of Ash Road and C.R. 20. This site has many graves surrounded by tall grass, tree limbs, garbage, and broken fences.

According to Gloria Trosper, who has many relatives buried here, this began a long time ago. “My grandparents died in 71 and 72 and that's when we really got involved and seen what was going on.”

Lack of care goes beyond just yard maintenance. Flags are set out for holidays like the Fourth of July end up on the ground after holidays.

Steve Pontius says, “Its disrespectful to me, right down here, this is from last year, the American flag, it's just no one cares.”

One of Pontius and Trosper’s relatives is missing a headstone at the cemetery, with no answers as to where it went. Pontius says, “My great uncle lives here; his headstone is gone I don't know if someone mowed and hit it and threw it away, I just can't find it.”

According to a caretaker of the cemetery, Peggy Biggs, upkeep is volunteer based because they are not owned by the city or county. While most work is volunteer based, they do pay for a crew to mow based on the money they make from donations.

The Pontius family tells ABC57 they did try for a few years to volunteer and help with the cemetery maintenance but as time goes on it gets more difficult.

Pontius says, “We’ve mowed, we have cleaned up a few years ago, I'm getting older my back can't take it, I can't do it anymore.”

The family wants to see change happen. Trosper says, "Just put it up like it should be, presentable and not an embarrassment.”

Not only has this been frustrating for the Pontius family, but it's also been upsetting.

Trosper explains, “Emotionally, I just have cried, I have been to other cemeteries, and I haven't seen one like this.”

According to Biggs there is a meeting held once a year to go over the budget, and volunteer plans for upkeep. She tells ABC 57 that the land is mowed every two to three weeks but the last time it was mowed was around the Fourth of July.