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!
On Sunday May 24th, the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization held the annual Memorial Day service at the CHCO designated and protected grave monument located in the Sumner Cemetery. The monument is the first of its kind that was erected in 1991 by the CHCO in the state of Maryland. The cemetery is located on Yale St. in Cumberland. It is Allegany County’s first all black cemetery. The cemetery was founded in 1884. Those that took part in the event were: Maryland Senator Mike McKay, Allegany County Commissioner President David Caporale, Rev. Conneley of Metropolitan A M E Church, Rev. Patrick of McKendree Methodist Church, Jimmy Beckwith played the Taps, Christine Peck laid the wreath and CHCO President Ed Taylor Jr. opened the ceremony.
Pictured below are: Senator Mike McKay, Allegany County Commissioner President David Caporale, CHCO President Ed Taylor Jr. and Christine Peck, and the Grave Monument.
To learn more about the Sumner Cemetery and the CHCO view our over forty YouTube videos on our two channels. They are listed under the name Cumberland Historic Cemetery Org.
Cumberland Times-News May 22, 2026
On Saturday May 16, 2026 the Cumberland (Md.) Historic Cemetery Organization unveiled a designated and protected information monument in honor of the founding pastor of St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church located in Ridgeley, WV. Fr. Robert Kilgannon was born in Ireland in 1893 and died in 1968. He was a traditional conservative priest and well thought of in the area. The monument was erected at his gravesite in St. Mary’s Cemetery Uhl Hwy. off of Rt. 51, south of Cumberland, Md.
Pictured below are members of the CHCO and the St. Anthony’s Church that took part in the ceremony. Ed Taylor Jr. Pres. of CHCO, Pastor Michael Mudge CHCO Chaplin, Fr. Daniel Price pastor of St. Anthony’s blessing the grave, Judy Wolfe of St. Anthony’s, Fred & Saralee Wolfe of St. Anthony’s unveiling the monument, and Malinda Newhouse of CHCO laying a wreath.
After the ceremony CHCO Rosarian Brett Dimaio lead the Holy Rosary. For more information visit our website www.chco.info
Cumberland Times-News April 27, 2026
On Saturday April 18, 2026, members and friends of the Cumberland (Md.) Historic Cemetery Organization gathered at the Historic Pollock Cemetery. The cemetery is located south of Cumberland off Rt. 51 on River Road near the C&O Canal. Pollock Cemetery was restored and maintained by the CHCO since 2001. The sacred and historic site is the area’s most interesting Civil War family cemetery. Located here under several CHCO designated and protected monuments are Confederate Veteran James Pollock and his sister, Confederate spy, Sallie Pollock. The monuments tell their story. A new information monument was added during this month, Confederate history month, for Edward Pollock. Pictured at the new monument are members James and Amari Ali who maintain the cemetery. To see videos and more information on the site visit www.chco.info
Cumberland Times-News March 25, 2026
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.
