Virtual Cemetery
Final resting place of Joseph Laundree (1823-1863), Co. F, 5th Vermont Infantry, Galvin Cemetery, Ripton, Vt. Photo courtesy of Edward Raymond
One reader's comment:
My eye is drawn first to the weather beaten and earth-sodden rotted logs. One small one standing nervously loose, and resting on the one above. The one above is longer and is stretching itself high to try and last through another long Vermont winter. In the background, I see the long twigs of the trees of different shapes and sizes, shut-down for the winter months, covering the whole middle length of the picture. Also, I see the bits of green grass mixed in with brown dead grass peeping up from the snow; and the beautiful 'woodsy, sun-less sky' with the scene of forest behind the monument. Then there is a new, fresh, American flag, stuck in the snow which leans the opposite way from the dead logs. It seems as if that flag is trying all by its self to keep the whole group together. But the greatest image in the whole picture is the wonderful tombstone of Joe Laundree, age 20 years, who died for his country with thousands of others who are buried in similar old lonely, surreal Vermont graveyards. It makes us think Joe is calling to us: "..... I still stand here. Leaning over, yes.... but my stone still stand here -- a monument to me, a dead Vermont Civil War soldier." The whole photograph in its entirety speaks for Joe Laundree in words, "Remember me."