Signed by Governor Ernie Fletcher, the check provides the association with funds needed to restore and preserve the James Thomas Cemetery near Donaldson Creek, whose wrought-iron gate dates the cemetery to at least 1806.
At the ceremonial presentation Thursday, Nov. 17 at Countryside Restaurant, the check was mislabeled as appropriating funds for a Thomas-Cullen cemetery.
TBA member Nina Alderson was not perturbed.
"As long as the dollars are up there, that's all that matters," she said.
"Our cemetery has historic value to it because James Thomas was a Revolutionary War veteran," Alderson said to the assembled audience of about 20.
Representative Melvin Henley commended the group's effort, saying the grants are highly competitive.
"I want to compliment who ever filled out that application," he said.
He also thanked the agency as a whole for undertaking the task of preserving the 200-year-old cemetery.
"You cannot successfully navigate the future without a clear image of the past," he said, recalling a sign on a high school civics teacher's door.
For the rest of this story, please see this week's edition of The Cadiz Record.
