2026 LATEST NEWS of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization Inc.
During this year, 2026, the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization will be honoring, promoting and teaching the great history and heritage of our nation, on the 250th anniversary of our beloved United States of America! We have designed special banners and a letterhead that will aid in this mission. We will be flying American historic flags of the American Revolutionary War era, along with the erection of several monuments. One monument stands out special for this anniversary year. On Sunday, November 1st at 2 pm the CHCO will unveil the most unique monument in Western Maryland history! The 250th anniversary Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization Monument. It will be dedicated to the history and heritage of the region since 1776 and to the deceased patriot members of the CHCO since 1983. This will be a great year for our nation and our organization. Remember to continue to pray for our nation and the CHCO. God Bless America!
Cumberland Times-News February 25, 2026
This letter was sent to all of the Allegany County, Maryland schools.
Feb. 11, 2026,
Dear Principal and Teachers,
The Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization was founded in 1983. The organization restores and maintains area historic and sacred cemeteries and our designated and protected gravesites. We promote, protect and preserve U.S. history and heritage within local cemeteries. Since our founding we have erected and restored over 900 monuments. These monuments are located on the sacred gravesites of American patriots from the American Revolutionary War era to current day.
One mission of the CHCO is that we have for decades offered free walking tours of area cemeteries that visit our monuments that tell the story of our great nation. In the past these tours were part of the Allegany County School system history class agenda. High school to elementary students in the past took our tours. Over the years this unfortunately fell by the way side, a great loss to all students!
2026 is the 250th anniversary of our great Republic and we are kick starting our school tours up again. We have a FREE tour program for area school students. We will provide free walking tours of SS. Peter & Paul and Rose Hill Cemeteries located next to one another on Fayette St. Cumberland. Since 1983 we have erected and restored 48 monuments located in these cemeteries. They cover history from the Revolution to current day. Large buses can easily pull into the front of SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery off Fayette St., where the tour begins and ends. The tour takes about one and a half hours.
The Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization invites your school at this time to schedule your students today for this most interesting, educational and outdoor enjoyable tour for your students. Please call our Headquarters at 301-722-4624. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you give our students a great future with the knowledge of our nation’s history and heritage. Thank you.
Sincerely,
2026 Board of Directors of the
Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization In
Cumberland Times-News February 6, 2026
Cumberland Times-News January 29, 2026
Cumberland Times-News January 17, 2026
On January 20, 2026 The Cumberland (Md.) Historic Cemetery Organization held a Memorial service in freezing weather at the gravesite of nine year old George C. Reitmeier, at the SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery on Fayette St. in Cumberland. The event marked the 110th anniversary of the child’s death on January 20, 1916. On that day several children were skating on the C&O Canal and one of the boys fell through the ice. George jumped in and saved his friend. However, George drowned after he saved his friend. He is the youngest person in U.S. history to receive the Carnegie Hero Medal. In 1993 the cemetery organization installed one of their designated and protected grave monuments at the child’s grave. It is a child size ledger crypt. Ten years ago the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, Pa. donated the bronze copy of the hero medal and the CHCO installed it on the monument. To see information on the unveiling in 1993 visit www.chco.info. Pictured below is a picture of George Reitmeier, a small rocking chair that belonged to young George, and CHCO members, friends and Reitmeier family members at the Monument. From the left are: Soraya Stephens, Josie Reitmeier, Kellie Reitmeier, Jalea Stephens, Norma Clark, Amy Reitmeier, Regina Twigg, John Reitmeier, Fr. Steve Fernando Pastor of Our Lady of Mountains, Ed Taylor CHCO President, Pastor Michael Mudge CHCO Chaplain, Allegany County Commissioner Dave Caporale, Fr. Dan Price Pastor of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Ridgeley, WV, Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss, Board of Education member Linda Widmyer, City Councilman Eugene Frazier, and CHCO Historian Mark Jones.
