The Washington County Free Library
Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland
The 33rd Annual Meeting of the Coalition to Protect Maryland Burial Sites (video link) was held on Saturday, May 3. Attendees traveled to Hagerstown from every part of Maryland and from as far away as West Virginia, Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and North Carolina.
The Coalition’s annual statewide conference opened with introductions from the Washington County Historical Society and Rose Hill Cemetery to set the stage in charming downtown Hagerstown.
President Eileen McGuckian conducted the brief business meeting, which included reports from Membership Chair Kristin Kraske, Treasurer Reginald Bishop, and Trader Foundation Secretary Glenn Wallace, and concluded with the election of officers, Hope Metzler and Katie Myers, and renewing directors for the 2025-2027 term.
Highlights of the day were the introduction to the Principles of Practice for Historic Cemetery and Gravestone Preservation by new President Hope, presentations on the vital roles of volunteers and descendants, and new Green Burial options. The 2025 Periwinkle Awardees inspired attendees with explanations of their actions and heartfelt responses.
Keynote presentations:
- Principles of Practice for Historic Cemetery and Gravestone Preservation by Hope Metzler, President-Elect, CPMBS (webpage)
- What Volunteers Can Do to Conserve and Maintain a Cemetery by Robert Mosko, Mosko Cemetery Monument Services
- The Living Link — The Roles of Descendants by Glenn Wallace, CPMBS Director and Suzanne Johnson, Sugarland Ethno-History Project
- The Green Burial Experience by Melissa Baughman, Serenity Ridge Natural Burial Cemetery and Andrew Harley, Morris Orchard Natural Burial Cemetery
The 2025 Periwinkle Awards were presented to Jamie Ferguson and Point of Rocks Colored Cemetery 1879.
Our traditional Open Forum networking session produced questions, requests for assistance, descriptions of cemetery situations, solid advice from around the room, and discussions of issues and concerns. [Link to the audio]
The day ended with tours to Halfway African American Cemetery and (undeterred by a rainstorm) Rose Hill Cemetery.