The Harwich Cemetery Commission is nearing the final stages of a meticulous historical audit for the Revolutionary War Soldiers Memorial Project, an initiative supported by $256,000 in Community Preservation Committee (CPC) funding. Cemetery Administrator Robin detailed a painstaking process of cross-referencing soldier names with the Town of Yarmouth to ensure accuracy and fiscal responsibility. With engraving costs estimated at roughly $10 per letter, the Commission identified 10 duplicate names that require detailed verification of service records to avoid redundant expenses on the 250-name memorial. I've been pulling their service records from Harwich history and their DAR, SAR, or pension files and then cross-referencing with the Town of Yarmouth files to see if it's different, the Administrator explained, citing the complex case of Ruben Paddock, a veteran claimed by both towns. Ruben Paddock and his wife lived in Harwich and had four children around the time that he served for the town of Harwich, which was 1778. So he's ours.

The Commission intends to list full names for the soldiers rather than just surnames, despite the added cost of 3,750 estimated letters. If we're recognizing these people, they need their full name, the Administrator noted, adding that Harwich would adopt a format similar to Yarmouth’s, listing enlistment records, birth and death dates, and burial locations. The project will eventually link digitized military records—including handwritten service cards and pension files—to the town's website to assist descendants in proving lineage. Following the final audit and a planned advertisement in the local Chronicle, the bid process is expected to open shortly.

Reflecting a broader town-wide shift toward modernization and accessibility, the Commission also provided input on the Pine Oaks Village development. The Administrator emphasized the need for cemetery documents to be available in multiple languages and for staff to be educated on diverse interment customs, such as Jewish burial practices. As the town becomes more diverse, we need to be prepared, the Administrator said, recalling a recent Brazilian family who required a relative to translate legal burial permits. Death certificates and burial permits are legal documents, so we want to make sure they are correct.

In financial business, the Commission reviewed the Rockland Trust cemetery trust, which held a balance of $25,300.92 as of early June. While investment income remains modest at $134 for the year, Commissioner Rob Doane expressed cautious optimism regarding the account's management. I'm still not happy with the fees, but it's better than the hundred dollars we were getting originally, Doane said. One commissioner, reacting to the $288.90 purchase of a high-definition portable scanner to preserve fragile records from Brooks Academy, noted, If you can't read digitized records, what's the point?

The Commission authorized several maintenance expenses, including $1,152 to Atlas Preservation for stone cleaning solution and $1,600 to Warren Nichols for weed control across three town cemeteries. Ongoing maintenance at the Remembrance site is currently awaiting warmer temperatures for the application of sealant by DPW staff before soil can be laid. To ensure continuity during the Administrator's upcoming vacation, DPW staff member Caitlyn Smith is undergoing cross-training on lot surveying and funeral home coordination. Could we have Caitlyn come visit us at a meeting so she can learn who the troublemakers are? Doane joked.

The Commission also received an update on Michael Theoritis’s Eagle Scout project at East Harwich Union Cemetery. The fence replacement project, one of the largest in recent Scout history, is scheduled for installation this Saturday. The Administrator noted that local business All Cape Fence has assisted with materials to help the Scout complete the project before his 18th birthday on Sunday. Looking ahead, the Commission scheduled its next meeting for July 10 at 9:00 AM.