Boiler Maker Local 647 Apprentices reset grave markers into freshly-mixed concrete footings.
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Story by Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review
MONTROSE Wright County’s historic Kreidler Cemetery, located just north of Montrose, hosts the gravesites of several generations of local residents, including veterans of the U.S. military going back to the Civil War. Over time, however, many of the older flat grave markers were sinking into the ground and becoming overgrown with grass. The voluntary association maintaining the cemetery needed help, the Wright County Labor Council learned.
The Council was seeking a community service project and responded quickly.
Two Council members went to assess the work needed. Otsego resident Tom Reger, apprentice coordinator for Cement Masons Local 633, and Clearwater resident Barky Hilla, business manager for Boiler Makers Local 647, determined that a team of supervised apprentices could do the job.
Council member and Teamsters Local 320 member Matt Walker, Buffalo, who has family members buried at Kreidler, helped plan the project.
And so, July 20, a team of 30 Boilermaker apprentices took a day off from their training in Ramsey and spent the day volunteering at Kreidler. They carefully removed grave markers from the ground, then re-set them into freshly-mixed concrete footings.
"Everybody gave 100 percent, more than 100 percent", said apprentice Troy Scruggs, Duluth. "They couldn’t believe how much we got done in one day".
Life-long Montrose resident and retired Teamster Alfie Mohring, 86, is the sexton who helps oversee maintenance of the cemetery. He applauded the apprentices’ work. "They were very professional, they worked hard and did a beautiful job", he said.
"They’re pretty good young guys", Local 647’s Hilla said. "I’m proud of them".