Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Greettings from Latvia!!!, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Now we head to Riga's National Cemetery--a very, very solemn, cherished place.
I told you before how much I love old Cemeteries. Well--this one is beyond special.
We only walked through the main roadway, so I am sure there are many, many more wonderful grave sites and monuments I never got to see.

This old Cemetery is basically filled up. It is called the "The Brothers Cemetery" (Bralu Kapi) and started out to be the equivalent of the "Arlington National Cemetery" in Washington, DC. Many soldiers that fought for the freedom in both wars--and also against the Soviet regime are buried here, but in time, many other respected persons, dingitaries, authors, poets in out history, composers, and such were buried here as well. Lets face it--burial spaces are not easy to come by.
And so--they opened a "Brothers Cemetery #2" next to it--One trolley stop further....
We started there--as out cousin's ancestors (and ours too by family lineage) are buried there.
I really want to try to convey to you the image of these old Cemeteries.....Many of you have said you can "see" what I am telling you about.
So, picture entering a Cemetery through old, wrought iron gates and walking along well-trodden, wide paths amid ancient trees with old grave sites on either side. Many of the grave sites are so old--SO beautiful! There are well kept ones--and there are forlorn ones. BUT--if there is anyone left from the family, they will be taken care of.

What does that mean??? Well--anyone coming to visit a loved one's grave site would not even think of coming without flowers in their hand. They could be picked along the roadside--just a few daisies--or purchased in any one of the beautiful Flower Stands outside the Cemetery. Most grave sites have a vase hidden somewhere, and water is available nearby from hoses.
They also have a small rake somewhere. To me--this is one of the most respectful and beautiful of traditions. When you visit--you do whatever you have to do--place fresh flowers in the vase, discard the old ones, etc. BUT---when you leave--you rake all the soil surrounding the grave site and never step on it again. Such respect!!!! Wish more people here had it!

So--here are photos of some outstanding monuments to some outstanding people in the Latvian history. Wish I had had time to wander for a couple of hours throughout this old Cemetery.....I could just get lost in it!

This monument is for a beloved conductor that had died. can you tell?