Volunteers to honor veterans buried at Lisle Cemetery Dec. 5

Nearly 80 veterans of conflicts dating back to the War of 1812 are interred at Lisle Cemetery.

Their graves will be honored with fresh evergreen wreaths this Christmas season thanks to the collaborative effort of the Lisle Heritage Society, Lisle Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5696, Downers Grove VFW Post 503 Auxiliary, Lisle Woman's Club, and Knights of Columbus St. Joan of Arc Council 15168.

Volunteers from the participating organizations will lay the wreaths Saturday, Dec. 5.

Lisle Heritage Society board member Cathy Cawiezel initiated the project in 2019 and coordinates it.

Donations from the public to help defray the cost of the wreaths and stands are welcome.

Information about "Adopt a Lisle Veteran's Grave for Christmas" is posted on www.LisleHeritageSociety.org.

Last year, more than 200 people commented on a Facebook post about the project, including veterans' family members living in California, Kansas, Oklahoma and Australia. One post reads, "Your goodness touched many people and I'm sure brought tears to some. Thanks so much for sharing your caring heart with us and for remembering those who have gone."

"When the early settlers of DuPage County settled in this vicinity in 1832 and later, there were no cemeteries where the dead could be buried so many were buried on the farms where they lived. Realizing the necessity of a proper burial place, James C. Hatch dedicated a tract of his claim as a burial ground. Burials were made from time to time and no charge was made for lots. J.C. Hatch looked after it and paid the tax on the plot. June 4, 1883 the Lisle Cemetery was incorporated under the State of Illinois as the Lisle Cemetery Association. It was set up to maintain and care for the cemetery. At first burials were free." - Lisle Cemetery Association Record Book

The Lisle Cemetery has been owned and operated by the Village of Lisle since 1987.