Amish in the News Special Feature: Cemetery Kindness in Kansas

CAPTION: An Amish cemetery near Grabill, Indiana (Dave Shaner photo)

There are so many differences among the Amish in philosophy and theology.  In that sense they aren't much different than the rest of society.  The Amish that descended on a rural plot of land south of Dodge City, Kansas last week to salvage a cemetery obviously have a very altruistic streak.  Many Amish don't view cemeteries as much more than  a place to bury loved ones and then not look back.  The cemetery isn't a place of permanent resting, according to Amish belief.  The deceased are on their way to a better place, so the cemetery itself is often an unadorned afterthought.

The Hutchinson News is a neat newspaper covering all of western Kansas.  Hutchinson and Dodge City will always be Amish Cook country. I put so much time and money into those markets over the years, they'll always be a part of the Amish Cook column.  So I am happy to feature an article in The Hutchinson News on Amish365.com about an old Amish cemetery being brought back to life.

Click here to read about this group of Amish that journeyed from Iowa to care for descendants buried in a cemetery that had fallen into disrepair.

I just found the article so touching in the sense that these Amish had never even been to this settlement, they had only heard stories passed down through the generations.  Would I go three states away to care for the graves of ancestors I had never met and had died 100 years ago.  I'd like to think I'd do it, but these Amish are quite inspiring in the way they banded together as a group to take care of the task.