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| Fairview Cemetery, Colfax Co., in Raton NM |
Today marks exactly twelve years ago that New Mexico Tombstone Transcription Project began. It was the day after the horrors of September 11 that about 15 people met at the Cherry Hills Library and learned what this project was about. I didn't think anyone would show up but I was surprised by the curiosity and eagerness of these volunteers. Just a few days later I had another training session with another 18 people! Everyone was so interested in the project and wanted to help.
From the very first day, Al Winkeljohn and Betty Lamberti (she was at the second training) have been with my group. They still show up almost every time, which is about 5 times a month. They are both still interested, eager and dedicated.
In these twelve years, we have advanced the knowledge of cemeteries in the state of New Mexico by finding many, many sites that were generally unknown. Today we have identified 1864 cemeteries or gravesites. Either Wink or I have been to 455 of these. As it stands (today), San Miguel county has the most burial sites at 132.
The dedicated volunteers that give up hours each month to further this project are:
Al Winkeljohn (started 2001)
Betty Lamberti (started 2001)
Barb Borowy (started 2005)
Gloria Henderson (started 2007)
B.J. Minshall (started 2008)
Lee Miller (started 2009)
Diane Bloom (started 2010)
Sharon Serrano (started 2010)
and my loving, dedicated, sweet husband, Rich who has always been there
I had started this project in 2000, completing Gate of Heaven Cemetery on my own and very happy that there are many more to help me now. Today I am continually grateful that my friends have stayed with this group and still want to do this project. We are no longer a 'group of volunteers' but a family.
In addition, I have a dedicated group of transcribers busy entering the information from what we have written into the computer so it can be uploaded to the website. They are:
Jackie Rhodes - who has been doing this 6 years!
(For the last 2-3 years she has continued transcribing from her new home in Waco, TX)
Mary Kamoss
Michel King
Jessica Smead
Carrie Ackerson
One additional volunteer is Tory Eastman and her mother who live in Alamogordo, NM. Tory single-handed took pictures of every grave at Monte Vista Cemetery in Alamogordo (a large cemetery). The transcribers still have some of her work to complete. And Tory's mother has faithfully been doing the Obit Times for the Alamogordo Daily News. This too, adds tremendously to our information.
Every single one of these wonderful volunteers have a special place reserved for them in heaven. Hopefully there won't be any cemeteries for them to walk, write or transcribe there. They can rest eternally knowing they have added to the history and ancestry of all peoples on earth.
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