2025 LATEST NEWS of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization Inc.
The Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization was founded in 1983 by our late Co-Founder Katherine M. Wolford who died in 1995 and is buried at Rest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, LaVale, Md. and current President Edward W. Taylor Jr.
The CHCO purpose is to protect and preserve the sacred and historic burial sites of all American Patriots. The CHCO protects and preserves our nation, the United States of Americas, history and heritage. The CHCO is a patriotic organization of the U.S.A. The CHCO prays for the Holy Souls.
The CHCO erects and restores monuments through our designated and protected gravesite program, from the American Revolutionary War era to current day. The CHCO is a charter member of the Coalition to Protect MD. Burial Sites Inc. May God bless and have mercy on the Holy Souls and the United States of America. Amen.
Cumberland Times-News December 26, 2025
Cumberland Times-News December 18, 2025
During December members of the Cumberland (Md) Historic Cemetery Organization decorated hundreds of their designated and protected gravesites with Christmas wreaths, poinsettias and American historic flags. These are gravesites marked with monuments erected or restored by the CHCO since 1983. They mark graves from the American Revolution War era to the current day. Pictured are two monuments located in the SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery located on Fayette Street, Cumberland, Md. The Malamphy family lot was restored by CHCO in 2017, and the George Reitmeier child ledger crypt was installed in 1993. Members pictured at the Malamphy monument are Brett Dimaio, Dennis Bittinger, Lisa Jones, Mark Jones, Dave Burcaw, Jim Ali, Peggy Keene, Blaine Davis, Judy Haines, Melinda Newhouse, Larry Haines, and Christina Taylor. Pictured at the George Reitmeier monument are Brett Diamaio, Mark Jones, Dennis Bittinger, Judy Haines, and Larry Haines.
On Saturday December 13, 2025 the Cumberland (Md.) Historic Cemetery Organization held their annual meeting and Christmas Social. The event was held at the CHCO Headquarters at 400 S. Allegany Street, Cumberland, MD. The 2026 projects and schedule was planned. Special monuments for the nation’s 250th anniversary next year will be announced soon. The CHCO wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God bless all patriots who protect and preserve our great American history and heritage.
The Cumberland (Md.) Historic Cemetery Organization was delighted this week to hear about the solving of another murder case that is connected to the Colonial Parkway Murders in Virginia. In 2023 we installed a monument for C.P.M. victim Keith Call. The monument is located in the Call family lot at Rosewell Cemetery, Hayes, Gloucester Co. Va. Keith and Cassandra Hailey were murdered April 10, 1988. Their remains are still missing. We hope and pray that someday Keith’s remains will be found and buried under our monument. Virginia State Police are making progress slowly in solving these murders that began in 1986 in the Tidewater area of Va. However, there were four murders that took place on the Parkway and they are still under FBI investigation. So far nothing!!!!!!!
Many dear Souls, such as Bill Thomas, Joyce Call Canada, Kristen Dilley, Blaine Pardoe, Andy Fox and many others have worked tirelessly for decades to help solve these murders and bring them to the public’s attention. In the past couple of years progress is starting to come forth slowly. However, there is still a long way to go. Most of the murders are still not solved. We believe in the end that Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. will be held responsible for all of them. Wilmer could go down in U.S. history as one of the biggest serial killers in our nation. The public must continue to demand answers and stand behind great American patriots such as our hero Bill Thomas.
The CHCO hopes and prays that through DNA investigations the truth will be revealed and these murders will be solved by the end of this decade. Since early 2024, we have been planning and working with several victims’ families, to build a monument in honor of all the Colonial Parkway Murders victims. We already have a location at Rosewell Cemetery. We intend to unveil the monument in 2029 or 2030. However, the story has not yet been completed. We ask the public to continue to help and support all those including law enforcement officers to solve all these cases as soon as possible. The nation is watching! The monument will be a four sided six foot tall informational work of art.
The Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization is currently accepting donations towards this most important monument. Donations of any amount will be graciously received. To make a donation go to our website at www.chco.info and click on to our, go fund me, or a check can be sent to our Headquarters at Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization 400 S. Allegany St. Cumberland, Md. 21502. Any questions 301-722-4624. We will post further updates. Thank you.
Pictured is our monument for Keith Call in Rosewell Cemetery, Hayes, Va.
Cumberland Times-News November 15, 2025
Cumberland Times-News November 14, 2025
On Saturday November 8, 2025 members of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization held a cemetery clean up at the Hinkle-Snow Cemetery. The cemetery has been affiliated with the CHCO since 1989. It is located east of Cumberland, MD just off Hinkle Rd. It is one of the oldest farm cemeteries in Western MD. Several CHCO designated and protected monuments are located there. One monument is for longtime member Faye Snow who died in 2023. Members that took part in the clean up were: Dave Burcaw, Mark and Lisa Jones, Amy Strickman, and Gary Carpenter.
On All Souls Day November 2, 2025 the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization unveiled their official designated and protected grave monument of the year. A six foot granite monument was erected in honor of Cumberland city worker Nathaniel Rice. He was buried alive while digging a large water main trench in south Cumberland in 1900. His grave has been unmarked since 1900 in the German Beneficial Cemetery also known as the German Lutheran Cemetery. The cemetery is located on Baltimore Avenue, Cumberland MD. Many guests attended the unveiling ceremony.
Cumberland Times-News October 22, 2025.
On Friday, October 31st, the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization will pray the three mysteries of the Holy Rosary for All Souls. The Rosary will be prayed two days before All Souls Day because the CHCO will be holding a monument unveiling that day. See below for the information about the unveiling. The Rosary will be led by Fr. Mark Carter and will begin at 11am. with the Joyful mysteries at the Shrine of the Pieta located in SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Fayette St., Cumberland. Followed by the Sorrowful mysteries at St. Patrick Cemetery, at Fairview & Furnace Sts., Cumberland. The prayers will end with the Glorious mysteries at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Uhl Hwy., south of Cumberland. The public is invited!!!! For more info call the CHCO Headquarters at 301-722-4624.
Cumberland Times-News September 11, 2025
Pictured at the unique Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization ledger crypt of deceased charter member Edward W. Taylor Sr., are David Judy W.Va. State and McNeills Ranger Commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Ed Taylor Jr. President of the CHCO, Leo Buddy Rowan CHCO member and Sons of Confederate Veterans member. Mr. Taylor Sr. was a member of both organizations. Thursday, Sept. 11 will be the second anniversary of his death. The CHCO will pray the Holy Rosary at his crypt, 12 noon. A Holy Mass will be offered for him at 6:30 pm at St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church in Ridgeley, W.Va. Both events are open to the public.
Also the two ton information ledger crypt will be one of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization designated and protected grave monuments feature on tour this weekend. Cumberland’s Heritage Days Festival will be held Sat. & Sun. Sept. 13 & 14. The CHCO will offer their free cemetery tours of SS. Peter & Paul and Rose Hill Cemeteries 12 noon and 3 pm. both days. Tours begin and end at SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery entrance, Fayette St. Cumb.
Cumberland Times-News August 28, 2025
The Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization held it’s annual ceremony on July 4th 2025 to honor Cumberland, MD area American Revolutionary War Veterans. Several speakers spoke at the event including: CHCO President Ed Taylor Jr., CHCO Rosarian Brett Dimaio, Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss, City Councilmen Rock Cioni and Eugene Frazier, and Allegany County Commissioner President David Caporale. The event began in front of CHCO Headquarters located at 400 S. Allegany St., Cumberland, Md. at the 1801 columns which marked the old entrance to the Capt. David Lynn estate. In 2008 the CHCO installed a granite plaque at the columns which covers 250 years of America’s history and heritage dedicated to Capt. Lynn. After the ceremony those present traveled to nearby Rose Hill Cemetery on Fayette St. to lay a wreath at the CHCO monument that marks the Lynn grave. The cemetery is named after the Lynn estate. The Lynn’s donated the land for the cemetery. Also pictured is the Headquarters on the night of July the 4th. We give a special thank you to local historian Al Feldstein for the wonderful photos.
On Sunday June 22, 2025 the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization held their annual memorial service for the Unborn. This service is held each year at the CHCO monument for theUnborn in the Davis Memorial Cemetery.
The monument was erected in 2004. The cemetery is located off of Uhl Highway, south of Cumberland, MD. Several members and guests spoke on the evils of abortion in the United States. Pictured are Darlene Chaney and Karen Majors.
The day’s weather was in the high 90s. After the service those present traveled across the highway to St. Mary’s Cemetery and laid a wreath at the gravesite of CHCO board member and Pro-lifer Mary Ann Eckard, who the day was in honor of.
June 13th is the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua, Italy. He is the patron saint of lost items. The CHCO has been, and continues to ask St. Anthony to pray to Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to find the mortal remains of murder victims Keith Call and Cassandra Hailey. The two were murdered in 1988 as part of the Colonial Parkway murders near Williamsburg, VA. Their remains are still missing. In October 2023 the CHCO installed a monument for Keith Call at the Rosewell Memorial Cemetery in Hayes, VA with the hope that his remains will be found and buried under the monument. The FBI field agents in the Norfolk, VA area have not solved these cases going on 37 years. The families of the murder victims are really upset that the FBI has not completed the investigation. The families are really hoping and praying that Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, the new heads of the FBI, will listen to the families and reopen the cases. With so many cold cases being solved today because of the use of forensic investigations and the huge data bank of DNA results, it is very possible that the Colonial Parkway murders will finally be solved, and foreclosure brought to the grieving families.
The statue of St. Anthony is located in the gardens of the Headquarters of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization at 400 S. Allegany Street, Cumberland, MD. The headquarters are located on the old estate of American Revolutionary War Veteran Capt. David Lynn. Many churches in the U.S. are graced with beautiful statues of St. Anthony, such as St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church in Ridgeley, WV.
On Saturday June 7, 2025 members of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization traveled to Romney, WV to attend an annual ceremony as guests of the Hampshire County WV Historical Society. The CHCO has taken part in this annual event since the early 1990s. The event was held at the first Confederate monument erected in the United States after the Civil War in 1867. The ceremony is held to pray for and honor the Confederate Veterans that are buried in the Indian Mound Cemetery where the monument is located. Pictured below are members of the Hampshire County Historical Society, members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and members of the CHCO. Left to right are: Clarence Spiker and his grandson, Brenda Hiett, David Judy, Leo Buddy Rowan and Christina Taylor.
Cumberland Times-News May 28, 2025
On Memorial Day weekend 2025. The Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization held their annual Memorial Day Service at Sumner Cemetery, Yale St., Cumberland, Md. Sumner Cemetery is the first black cemetery that was established in Allegany County, Maryland.
In 1991 the CHCO unveiled their first Civil War monument to honor six black Union Soldiers of the U.S.C.T. unit. Each year since then the organization holds their Memorial Day service at this sacred and historic location.
Pictured at the cemetery are: Md. Senator Mike McKay, City Councilman Eugene Frazier, U.S. Congresswoman April McClain Delaney staff member Edena Bradford, Sumner Cemetery Committee Member Christine Peck, and the CHCO President Ed Taylor Jr. Ms. Bradford presented the CHCO with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition.
The CHCO also took part in the Cumberland Memorial Day parade.
Cumberland Times-News May 21, 2025
During the week of May 18, 2025 members of the CHCO have been busy decorating all of their hundreds of designated and protected grave monuments for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. The monuments have been erected and restored by the CHCO since 1983. Pictured are members at the monument erected in 2021 for freed slave Critty Powell that is located in Sumner Cemetery in Cumberland. Also pictured in the Sumner Cemetery are members at the First CHCO Civil War monument to honor six black Union Soldiers. Members are also shown at the restored monument of Daniel Schmenner who died in 1855. He is buried in St. Luke’s Cemetery that is located in Cumberland. The monument was restored by the CHCO in 2008.
On Sunday, May 25 at 2 pm the CHCO will hold their annual Memorial Day service at the CHCO Union Soldiers monument located in Sumner Cemetery. The cemetery is off of Yale Street, Cumberland, MD. The public is welcome to attend the ceremony!
On Saturday May 10, 2025 the CHCO President Ed Taylor, Jr. gave a tour of the restored Shrine of the Pieta in SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery. The cemetery is located off of Fayette Street in Cumberland. The group taking the tour was St. Padre Pio Secular Third Order of St. Francis. After the tour Father Mark Carter lead the prayer of the Holy Rosary. To see photos of the CHCO restoration go to the 2024 latest news webpage and see the latest YouTube video.
On Saturday May 3, 2025 Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization members attended the annual conference of the Coalition to Protect Md. Burial Sites. This year the meeting was held at the Washington County Library located on Potomac Street in Hagerstown, Md. CHCO President Ed Taylor, Jr. spoke about the CHCO designated and protected grave monument program. The Coalition was founded in 1991 and the CHCO is a charter member.
Cumberland Times-News January 17, 2025
Cemetery organization honors all veterans
I am writing in response to the letter titled “Reader questions claim of patriotic organization” published in the Dec. 30 Cumberland Times-News.
According to the National Archives and Records Administration Public Law 85-425, sections 432-433, which passed in 1958: (3) Section 432 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: “(e) For this section, and section 433, the term ‘veteran’ includes a person who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, and the term ‘active, military or naval service’ includes active service in such forces.”
Alan Septoff calls Americans who fought for the Confederate States of America traitors. With no facts, he claims the founding documents made abundantly clear the Confederate States of America was dedicated to the dissolution of the United States of America to preserve chattel slavery.
Mr. Septoff claims the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization is not a “patriotic organization” because it displays a Confederate flag on its headquarters and displays it on its website.
Mr. Septoff, the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization honors veterans of all American wars.
Leo Rowan III
Ridgeley, W.Va.
Cumberland Times-News January 15, 2025
Not a single Confederate convicted of treason
A recent letter to the editor maligns the patriotism of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization by questioning one of several historical flags flown at the organization’s headquarters in an inferior position to the United States flag, which is properly displayed in the position of honor.
The writer falsely asserts that the Confederacy’s actions were traitorous, and that secession was dedicated to the dissolution of the United States for the express purpose of preserving chattel slavery. Such an assertion belies the inconvenient truth that chattel slavery was sanctioned by the United States Constitution from its ratification on June 21, 1788, until the ratification of the 13th Amendment on Dec. 6, 1865, far longer than the four years the Confederacy existed.
Moreover, President Abraham Lincoln, in his inaugural address of March 4, 1861, advanced his support for a constitutional amendment that would have prohibited Congress from ever abolishing or interfering with chattel slavery.
The seceding states never sought dissolution of the United States but rather wished to exercise their reserved right to peacefully exit the voluntary compact they entered.
Not a single Confederate, including Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Gen. Robert E. Lee, was convicted of treason, in large part due to the unsettled constitutional questions as to whether one’s citizenship and loyalty was to one’s native state or to a monolithic Union. Trying Jefferson Davis for treason would have raised questions about the legality of secession and the constitutionality of the war.
One merely needs to consider the untold constitutional violations that Marylanders suffered at the hands of the Lincoln administration, which included the suspension of habeas corpus, the arrest of state and local officials, including Maryland’s U.S. Congressman Henry May, the imprisonment of newspaper editors, and election interference, to comprehend the states’ rights concerns of the seceding states and occupied Maryland.
Terry Klima
Perry Hall