GRAVETTE — Driving on Highway 59 south of Gravette, it’s easy to miss the small black and white sign reading: “Bethel Cemetery 1/4 mile.” For the people who are familiar with the lush grounds and rich history of Bethel Cemetery, though, the place is not to be missed.

Col. William Hastings, who relocated to Benton County from Tennessee, dedicated the land for Bethel Cemetery in 1853. Since Hastings’ original donation, the cemetery has been maintained through cooperative efforts and community support. Though weather and time have erased the names from some of the oldest stones, on a clear Memorial Day morning, no plot seemed to be forgotten. Every grave in Bethel Cemetery is welltended, thanks to localindividuals and the Stewards of Bethel Cemetery.

Clarence Hamilton, a lifelong resident of Gravette, sat in his pickup, looking out over the cemetery grounds.

“Sometimes you see a cemetery with grass grown all over, way up high,” Hamilton said, “and that’s just not how it’s supposed to be. We keep it nice here out of respectfor the people buried here and their families.”

Hamilton has helped to maintain the cemetery grounds since he retired 12 years ago. Many of Hamilton’s family and friends have been laid to rest in the peaceful grounds overlooking the Spavinaw Creek.

“It’s just a real nice place,” Hamilton observed. “It’s just kept up real good. There’s a bunch of us who have family here, and we take care of the cemetery. That’s part of what makes it so nice.”

Hamilton also acknowledged the hard work of those paid to regularly mow the grounds.

Hamilton pointed to a line of trees planted twelve years ago.

“It used to be there wasn’t any trees out here. But now we have these little old pear trees that bloom in the spring. It makes the cemetery really pretty.”

Bethel Cemetery predates Memorial Day. May 30, 2011, marked the 143rd Memorial Day observed in Bethel Cemetery. The holiday, which is dedicated to the honoring of individuals who have died in service to the nation, was apparent by the many small American flags fluttering in the wind.

“I got to looking, walking around,” Hamilton said, “I was really surprised. I didn’t realize how many veterans we had buried out here.”

In fact, Bethel Cemetery was founded with the burial of six unknown soldiers. Since then, veterans from every American war, including the Civil War, have been buried on the grounds.

People interested in helping to preserve history, honor veterans or remember lost loved ones can help maintain Gravette’s Bethel Cemetery by making financial contributions to the Stewards of Bethel Cemetery account at the Bank of Gravette. Volunteers are also invited to join in two seasonal workdays held the first Saturday of May and the first Saturday of October.

News, Pages 3 on 06/01/2011