FARMINGTON — Last week, three grave markers of Revolutionary War veterans were removed from the Red Schoolhouse Road cemetery for safe keeping. After town officials were informed the well-meaning action was illegal, the markers were returned to the gravesites.
Selectmen Michael Fogg and Matthew Smith are members of the Roderick-Crosby American Legion Post No. 28 and, at one of that organization’s recent meetings, members had expressed concerns about the markers being stolen now that the cemetery has been refurbished.
It was thought the markers belonged to the town, so the issue was brought up at last week’s selectmen meeting. It was voted to replace the heavy bronze and pewter markers with plastic markers and present the originals to the Farmington Historical Society.
Early this week, the town received an email from Kerry E. Zimmerman, president of the Holden Historical Society and regent of the Mount Desert Isle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
“The Town of Farmington has no authority to ‘present’ or ‘gift’ grave markers placed by the Sons of the American Revolution OR the Daughters of the American Revolution to anyone,” Zimmerman wrote.
A second email indicated removing the markers is against state law.
Town Manager Richard Davis has since returned the markers to the cemetery. In an email sent to Zimmerman he stated, “This was a well-intentioned, if misguided, attempt at preserving these markers.”
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