As part of its ongoing restoration efforts, the Ogdensburgh Cemetery Association is inviting community members and lot owners to help crews clean up veterans’ gravesites on Saturday.

Volunteers are asked to meet at the MacIntyre Chapel located at the main entrance of the Ogdensburgh Cemetery, Route 812 just outside the city limits, at 9 a.m. At 9:30 a.m. volunteers will head to the veteran’s memorial gravesite to help rake up debris and tidy headstones in time for Memorial Day services.

“We want to invite lot owners and other community groups to come out and help because this is our heritage,” said Restoration Committee Chairwoman Betty J. Mallott. “It is our history, and we need to preserve it.”

Cemetery Association members will be on hand to help facilitate cleanup efforts. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own shovels, rakes and gloves. Lot owners and visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase flowers for graves at the MacIntyre Chapel, Mrs. Mallott said.

“We want to encourage visitors to use real flowers instead of plastic, as plastic can cause injury to our lawn care professionals,” said Mrs. Mallott.

In addition, visitors will get a tour of the newly restored chapel. Donations to restore the chapel came from the MacIntyre family.

“We also want to take this opportunity to show people opportunity to show people the work we’ve done so far, including the chapel,” said Mrs. Mallott. “We’ve completely restored six or eight stained glass windows, and we are excited to show them to the public.”

Several groups will be on hand to help volunteer, including Wal-Mart employees, Ogdensburg Free Academy Key Club and the Builder’s Club. Refreshments will be donated by McDonald’s.

“The students are really looking forward to it,” said Builders Club Adviser Nancy A. Skelly. “We’re hoping they’ll get a better understanding of their history, and take an active interest in the gravestones that they are helping to preserve.”

For more information, contact Mrs. Mallott at 393-7605.

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