Annual Update
2024
Our 2024 season was a big year for us. We had many exciting changes and made a lot of progress in our efforts to improve the Maple Hill Cemetery. With the help of the Veteran’s Administration, we were also able to attain a military headstone for a casualty of the First World War. You can read more about Norman Bawks and his story here. With a generous donation made by the DAV Hibbing Russo-Golob #3., we were able to landscape the Veteran’s Memorial along Central Avenue and provide materials to the Maple Hill Cemetery to have the two memorial benches along Tower Avenue restored. With the remaining funds we donated a flag retirement box to the cemetery, which has been installed outside of the office.​​
Project Honor and Restore
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon-Hibbing/Chisholm, has undertaken a number of projects this past year of which we are honored to have been a part of and look forward to our continued partnership. In May, we hosted a training workshop on headstone cleaning and restoration with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and the Army National Guard, instructing on proper techniques and methods when working with headstones.
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Upon completion of our workshop, they gathered over 100 volunteers throughout the summer, including groups from US Steel, Walmart, Grace Lutheran Confirmation classes, and Soldiers from the Chisholm National Guard Unit. They were able to clean over 500 military headstones. With a few more rows to go, they will then begin photographing and taking inventory to upload the information to an online database for genealogical research.
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Next summer, we will be hosting yet another workshop, this time on footstone cleaning and recovery, as we work to uncover and reset Veteran footstone markers that have sunk below the surface at Maple Hill Cemetery.
One of the biggest improvements currently in discussion is the replacement and addition of the many flag poles throughout the grounds to bring them up to date and add lighting.
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“The flag pole project has involved multiple community meetings that included representation from multiple veterans’ groups including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, MidRange Honor Guard, Northeastern Minnesota Women veterans, as well as, the city of Hibbing, and community businesses like US Steel. We have a draft plan listing the poles to be replaced and/or added and the number and types of flags that will be needed and the necessary lighting so flags can be properly flown all summer. We are working on final plan approval from the City of Hibbing and will be applying for grants soon.”
- Chris Magnusson – Beyond the Yellow Ribbon
For more information on the Honor and Restore Project you can contact Beyond the Yellow Ribbon at
218-969-7137 or by email btyrhc@gmail.com
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We did have some downsides to the year as well. Maple Hill experienced a string of thefts throughout the spring and summer season, but the city has responded with increased patrols to reduce this occurrence. We encourage anyone who has experienced a theft to report it to the Hibbing Police Department at 218-403-5710. We would also like to notify everyone that we are no longer servicing the Buhl, Cherry, Nashwauk, and Virginia cemeteries, but continue to offer services for Maple Hill, North Hibbing, and Chisholm.
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In addition to the above, we have updated our refund and replacement policy, which we can be viewed here. We are offering an additional service for the 2025 season to deter animals from eating the flowers. This is entirely optional, should you opt in, a service charge of $15 will be applied to your bill.
We look forward to another season ahead and the opportunity to serve you and the community!
Sincerely,
Michele, Zachary, & Isaiah