7 sostenitori stanno parlando di petizioni relative a Cemetry!
This needs to happen. These people are human beings, and they were treated with the utmost disregard in life and in death. Shame on the West Virginia government for allowing the markers to be removed. Shame on the state of West Virginia for turning a blind eye to this. It is time these people are recognized with the dignity they deserve.
My grandfather, John W. Baughman, was a patient at the Weston State Hospital for 2 yrs & 11 months and died there Oct. 17, 1948 of Myocarditis/Tuberculosis at 75 yrs, 11 months and 5 days. He was a Teacher. A Postmaster for the Rosedale, WV PO. He was a Commercial Salesman. A Merchant. A Leaser of Gas & Oil; as yes, there was oil discovered in WV back in the day. He had his first and only child at age 56. Divorced. Came from a long and varied lineage of VA/WV early pioneers. His brother, Edward, was a 6 term Mayor of Sutton, WV. Would he, if alive, allowed my grandfather to be buried into obscurity in an unknown grave in a neglected, decimated cemetery? Shame on the State of West Virginia for not doing due diligence in the responsibility of preserving & providing upkeep in these cemeteries. Families want to find their people. They should be ashamed. I want to know WHERE my grandfather is buried! He deserves a memorial. He deserves respect. I cried, and literally said outloud, " I found you" in between sobs when I discovered where he died. He must have felt so alone...with no family left to protect him. Only one sister remained out-of-state. Did my 19 yo father know? I will never know. There are lessons to be learned here. It is time to break the cycle of dehumanizing negligence and shoddy work as normal. I expect excellence of myself, appreciate it when I see it around me...and it is time to get with the program. Be an example for others to emulate. Recognize and honor our personal & American Story and WV History...even when it is not pretty.
As a former “client” of Weston State Hospital, I can’t even begin to express how important this is. The work Titus has done, on his own, to preserve and present the facts about WSH is unmatched. His leadership of WVSHI Inc. is nothing short of inspiring.
I’m fortunate to have built a successful life for myself after WSH, but I can personally attest to the horrors and complete disregard for human life that took place within those walls.
Enough is enough. Enough excuses. Enough disregard. Stop pretending this didn’t happen. It’s bad enough that the hospital was sold and is now being used as an entertainment venue, profiting off a false claim of “preserving the state’s history.”
The cemeteries deserve better. They need to be in the hands of an organization that truly cares, one that will restore and protect them for good.
I would bet my life on WVSHI doing just that. Please, sign this petition. Share it. Support this cause. Let’s make this a reality. The people buried in these cemeteries deserve to be recognized with the same dignity and respect as anyone else.
Thank you, Titus. Thank you, WVSHI. Best of luck. You have my full support.
In my eyes, there is no reason why this should not be done. Weston Hospital failed more people than it helped. The least that can be done is to allow an organization led by an astounding man with a heart made of solid gold to take over the cemeteries.
What does the state have to lose? The state stands to lose the cost of maintenance and the perpetuation of denying respect and recognition to the men, women, and children interred at these cemeteries.
I can think of no more acceptable loss than that. Only pure ignorance or a desire to hide something could stand in the way of this.
It is 2024, not 1924. Times have changed. We cannot and should not forget. Allowing this transfer of ownership will ensure that these people are no longer forgotten.
Anything less than transferring these cemeteries to the organization Mr. Swan leads is unacceptable.
I speak not just as a resident of West Virginia but also as someone who has two relatives interred at these cemeteries, one of whom was buried there due to a mistake on the hospital's part.
Governor Justice and Governor-Elect Morrisey, we need you to make this happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My young grandchildren decorate my mums plot around her rose bush. It's there way of dealing with the big loss in there life's. Surly no harm is done and to be honest when I visit the cemetery it looks glorious, colourful and loved.
My daughter Sophia-Grace passed away aged 4 months old she is buried in the children's garden at Eastern cemetery and I'm so unhappy about this decision please sign the petition and help us keep out beautiful gardens for our loved ones xx