To the editor:

Last Saturday (June 7) there was an article in the Record reporting my comments to Langley City Council about the cemetery. Unfortunately, I was quoted after a long day and I misspoke about a couple of issues that I would like to put right.

The Friends of Woodmen Cemetery, a small nonprofit organization, is an amazing group of people who have been incredibly supportive of our little cemetery over the last 13 years.  Friends first made sure the cemetery was not sold when the city was having financial challenges, then helped the city improve the new sections by voluntarily planting trees, platting out the plots so new ones could be sold, and aided the city in maintaining the cemetery over the last decade. Most recently Friends helped to establish the new

Ash Garden. Their sole purpose is to support the city in its caretaking of the cemetery which the city and the cemetery board is extremely thankful for.

I would like to set the record straight that the city cemetery fund has always paid for maintenance of the cemetery, not the Friends.  Friends graciously fundraised in order to purchase a mower, purchased it and then maintained the mower. The city sub-contracted with Friends to do the mowing for many years.

This year, at the request of Friends, the city will not sub-contract with the Friends for mowing because of liability reasons. The city will choose another subcontractor to do mowing at the cemetery.

The Friends partner with the city on improvements and work cooperatively with the cemetery board and public works planning projects and advising on gardening and upkeep. Throughout each year Friends volunteer their services for weed whacking, trimming around plots and organize regularly scheduled events and clean-ups at the cemetery. Friends will continue to lend support to the city for maintenance as the need arises.

Both the cemetery fund and Friends have an endowment that is in place to support the cemetery should there ever be a financial need. The city’s cemetery fund receives its funding from plots that are sold each year and a percentage from the city’s endowment. Part of the money from plot sales goes toward the endowment and part goes into the cemetery fund. The cemetery fund is used to maintain the cemetery, not to make money on the cemetery.

Interested citizens can contribute to the maintenance of the cemetery by donating to the Friends of Woodmen Cemetery. The city of Langley also accepts donations. Both the Friends and the cemetery board work together for the good of the cemetery and its environs.

I hope this makes clear that the city pays for maintenance and always has and donating money to the Friends directly benefits the maintenance of the cemetery. I humbly apologize for not speaking more clearly and accurately.

Langley is so lucky to have this dear little cemetery. Although it is owned and operated by a municipal entity it is established for the benefit of the people of South Whidbey. This charming cemetery allows folks to express themselves by making their plots unique, creating a very special place.

Volunteers from Friends who give of their time at work parties each year, or weed whack and trim around the grounds do so because they truly care for this place. People throughout the community enjoy walking in the cemetery and share in its beauty and solace.

The cemetery board’s goal is to continue supporting and enhancing Langley’s Woodmen Cemetery in partnership with the Friends in perpetuity.

Rene Neff

Langley