Standing in this picturesque town since 1833, this cemetery connects families to multiple generations of history and legacy. Scrawling “Black Lives Matter” over headstones in spray paint, and vandalizing more than twenty graves, these foolish anarchists represent the worst of this country. Bonnie and Alan went to the cemetery to check on the graves of Bonnie’s parents. While there, they met Remar Rucker. Mr. Rucker owns a pressure-washing service, and he found out about the damage…Mr. Rucker is African American.

Over the weekend [July 13-14, 2020], in Anderson, South Carolina, vandals tore into a historic cemetery that belongs to Midway Presbyterian Church. Standing in this picturesque town since 1833, this cemetery connects families to multiple generations of history and legacy. Scrawling “Black Lives Matter” over headstones in spray paint, and vandalizing more than twenty graves, these foolish anarchists represent the worst of this country.

Midway Presbyterian Church is my home church. My father pastored there for years, and I played the piano for many of the funeral services of people buried in that cemetery. Led by my father, I have walked with hundreds across the street from the church to stand by graves that this weekend bore slander and disrespect from vandals.

When I saw the pictures, anger welled up within me. “Enough is enough,” I fumed to myself. “These people are out of control and people in power and in the media seem to be fueling this.”

Living two-thousand miles away, however, I felt helpless to even try to repair the damage.

Late in the evening, however, I received a call from life-long friends, Bonnie and Alan. They went to the cemetery to check on the graves of Bonnie’s parents. While there, they met Remar Rucker. Mr. Rucker owns a pressure-washing service, and he found out about the damage. Despite a long day at work, Mr. Rucker immediately rushed to help scour the graffiti off the headstones. After cleaning the stones, Mr. Rucker helped Alan reset as many as possible.

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