04/29/2005 Added Note: Since writing this, several different events have come into play in order to try to find help from others.
1) This webpage's existence was written about and discussed on the ALCOFFEE mailing list.(So I know of 221 people who know of this need of the PRHGS volunteers. And...there have been 121 people view this page as of today since I posted it three days ago.)
2) From that post, we have folks seeking volunteers and equipment to help.
3) Christine GRIMES Thacker is attempting to track down the folks from Georgia who helped repair about a dozen headstones for Dale County Genealogical Society.
4) There has been mention of someone (anyone) placing this cry for help on church and organization bulletin boards.
5) I have personally made a request for the donation of a chipper/shredder and/or weed eater from Lowe's of Enterprise. I visited Lowe's on Wednesday to make my request after taking a look-see around to make sure they sold chipper/shredders, but was told that the donation would have to be discussed with Shane Showalter (manager) and that he would have to get permission from higher up. While looking for the chipper/shredder, I was told that there is a chipper/shredder at Lowe's which was returned by a lady who could not get it to start. (God does work in mysterious ways!)
Soooo....I returned to Lowe's yesterday. I waited for two and a half hours standing near the customer service desk while Mr. Showalter conducted employment interviews. Finally, a young lady at the counter while on a phone asked me (again) who it was that I was there concerning. I told her (again) "the Pea River Historical and Genealogical Society". She then wanted to know my name, which I told her. She then asked me "what is it exactly that you wish to speak to him concerning." I told her again. After about five minutes, she told me that she had been told that the best they could offer would be a discount. This distressed me that I had stood for two and a half hours and was not even given the common courtesy to speak with the manager. I then told her that I knew there to be a returned chipper/shredder on the premises and that it would benefit the PRHGS and a worthy cause to have it donated to them, and that it would be good publicity for Lowe's to be shown in a local paper donating it...just good public relations all around. She got back on the phone and about five minutes later, Mr. Shane Showalter came to talk to me. I showed him the pictures above and told him of our problem. He seemed concerned and stated that he would contact me after he spoke with the person or persons who he needed to speak with above him. I will pray for this to work out. Also, IF Lowe's should donate the chipper/shredder, does anyone know anyone in the area who could look at and fix it to make it start, please?
6) Suggestion has been made to make contact with the local (older--high teens) Boy Scouts of America to see if they could help with this....as a project
7) Suggestion has been made to make contact with the Ft. Rucker Warrant Officer Candidate class instructor to see if they need a project.
8) I called the Enterprise Ledger and spoke with Kim Lewis about doing a story on this project...so others in the area will know that we need some help.
9) Lisa Franklin has placed a link to this website from her front page of Tracking Your Roots with an "order" for folks to get off their duff and help.
So as you can see, there is action underway to help the volunteers....
..........now the future will disclose to us what grit the area folks have or do not have.
I challenge us to show that we are gungho, die-hard, run out there and help til it hurts folks in this neck of the woods. So come on out, if you are local, and let's get this done...before it starts getting too hot and the snakes start crawling.
Here are
Georgia Fleming's photographs of the markers they uncovered at John McGee Cemetery after cutting and cleaning down to them:
