Sacred Celebration: Sams Cemetery honors Civil War veterans, children

Sept. 26--MINGO -- During a two-hour long ceremony at Sams Cemetery on Saturday, wind chimes provided a constant sound for visitors who gathered to honor Iowa's newest pioneer cemetery.

Sams became a pioneer cemetery in February by having 12 or fewer burials in the last 50 years. Saturday's ceremony celebrated that distinguished classification and the 10 Civil War veterans who are buried there.

More than 150 people gathered to tribute the service of those 10 veterans by keeping their names alive in conversation. But also a highlight of the afternoon was the recognition of the 62 children who are also buried there.

Handmade wind chimes were placed at every child's grave inside Sams Cemetery to tribute the children, half of whom were under the age of 10 when they died. The purpose is behind the legend that when you hang a wind chime in a cemetery you can hear the voices of angels.

The land -- south of Mingo -- sits atop a hill, so a strong wind all afternoon provided the angelic sound while speakers took turns at the podium honoring the burial place.

Speaker Danny Krock, Department of Iowa Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, gave the opening remarks while the Mingo American Legion presented the colors. Afterward was Mike Rowley of the Iowa Military Heritage Society, who then took the stand to speak about the 220 souls who are buried there.

"The first phase (of death) is when the body seizes to function. The second phase is when the body is inside the grave. And the third and final, hopefully in the very far future, is when their name is spoken for the very last time," Rowley said. "As we walk around the cemetery perhaps each of us might speak a name of those buried here. Perhaps the next generation will continue to do the same and that third phase of death will never come to anyone at Sams Cemetery."

Other speakers that afternoon included Dan Gannon, chair of the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs, former Sen. Dennis Black and Bill Reedy of the State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries.

Speaking wasn't the only function on Saturday as several symbolic actions took place to honor certain gravesites at Sams. One of which was the dedication of civil war veteran Adam Robison, who laid in an unmarked grave since 1922 until it was eventual corrected this past summer. The 49th Iowa Infantry revealed Robison's headstone at Sams Cemetery on Saturday.

Before the closing remarks, organizers Janine Johnson and Robert Gannon thanked all visitors for joining in on the celebration, and then the pair received a surprise plaque from Sen. Black as a gift of appreciation.

"I just want to thank my new and my old friends here who are supporting Sams Pioneer Cemetery," Johnson said. "Bringing Sams Pioneer Cemetery from a neglected cemetery to a dignified honorable cemetery has been a journey to say the very least."

Contact Alex Olp at aolp@newtondailynews.com

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