Expert Claw Maneuvers Rescue Historic Headstones in Black Cemetery
Expert Claw Maneuvers Rescue Historic Headstones in Black Cemetery
In a striking display of nature’s force versus human heritage, daring, and ingenuity at Lincoln Cemetery, just beyond the city limits of Harrisburg, an urgent Black Cemetery headstone rescue operation unfolds. The scene is a delicate balance of tension and intent: four historic headstones, silent witnesses to African American legacies, face imminent destruction. One of them, perilously displaced, is pushed to rest on one edge on its foundation supporting the overwhelming weight of a fallen silver maple. The visual is startling— the bottom of the once-steadfast monument now teeters on a razor’s edge, supported only by a sliver of contact with it’s base. With no time to waste SOAL reached out to the Greater Harrisburg community, and help arrived in the form of Lee Riddle, his team, and their expert claw maneuvers with the Avant 528. Read and/or watch the YouTube video (below) to experience the action as it unfolded as we rescue historic headstones in Harrisburg’s oldest Black cemetery!
As we delve deeper into the scene, the precariousness of the situation becomes evident. The massive trunk, a behemoth in its own right, hovers above the ground, its stability is a mere illusion. The branches, though substantial, are alarmingly distant from any solid support, with only the faintest twigs making contact with the earth. It’s a vivid illustration of the challenge at hand: all of the tree’s substantial weight rests on one branch that that pushes on the headstone before making contact with the rapidly thawing ground. Melting snow turns the earth to mush, and the tree begins to sink and tilt towards the headstones. Destruction is imminent.
This scenario highlights not only the fragility of the historical markers in our Black Cemetery, but also the intricate dance of emergency tree removal at a historic site. It underscores the complexities SavingOurAncestorsLegacy faces in our historic cemetery restoration in Harrisburg and the critical importance of funding cultural heritage preservation in Pennsylvania.
Each snapping branch and the perilous tilt of the headstone serve as a reminder of the high stakes involved in safeguarding our ancestors’ resting places from the unpredictable elements of nature. We need your support!
SOAL: SavingOurAncestorsLegacy Volunteers Use Avant 528 Claw to Rescue Historic Headstones in Black Cemetery Emergency
Last week, fear struck deep in the hearts and minds of SOAL: SavingOurAncestorsLegacy volunteers, and this sacred ground became the stage for a heart-stopping rescue mission that tested the limits of precision and bravery.
As winter relinquished its grip, a colossal silver maple, a silent sentinel in this hallowed space, succumbed to the thaw, its roots losing their hold. The once-majestic tree, now a behemoth of danger, teetered precariously, its immense weight resting solely on a slender branch. This branch, in a cruel twist of fate, found support on an ancient marble headstone, one of four that lay in the shadow of potential ruin.
The call for aid was answered by Riddle Tree Experts LLC, a team whose reputation for meticulous care and reverence for history preceded them. With a task that bordered on the impossible, they arrived, armed not with just tools, but with a resolve to preserve the dignity of those at rest.
Their secret weapon? An ingenious machine, compact yet powerful, designed to navigate the delicate labyrinth of marble markers with the gentility of a guardian angel. Its claw, a marvel of engineering, promised salvation or disaster with a mere twist.
The operation began, a ballet of blades and brawn, as non-essential limbs were delicately severed, each cut a whisper in the hallowed silence. The air was thick with anticipation, every eye fixed on the branch that bore the weight of history and the imminent threat of desecration.
Then, in a moment that seemed to suspend time itself, Lee Riddle, with the steadiness of a surgeon and the heart of a warrior, engaged the claw. The tree, a titan of the forest, surrendered to the machine’s embrace, lifted with a grace that belied its massive form. The headstone, a silent witness to this dance between man, machine, and nature, stood unscathed, a testament to the skill and respect of those who dared to tread on sacred ground.
This was not just a day’s work. It was a declaration that cemetery restoration, far from being a mundane task, is a journey fraught with peril, passion, and profound respect for the past. Join us on this nail-biting adventure, where history hangs in the balance, and witness the unwavering commitment of those dedicated to preserving our ancestors’ legacy…Volunteer with SOAL: SavingOurAncestorsLegacy!
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