For 165 years people in the Ider community have gathered for Decoration Day. For nearly 100 of the early years they traveled by wagon. Now they travel by automobile. The hand made paper flowers have been mostly replaced by premade silk flowers, and the community gathering to care for the cemetery has been replaced in large part by monetary donations to pay for needed work. Something that has not changed is the elder generation share stories of their family with the younger generations.
This year, Mountain Home celebrates 165 years. The oldest cemetery in the community and one that has a rich history, filled with deep connections of blood, community, and faith.
The weather was cloudy, and rain peppered the hillside several times, but many came to place flowers on the grave of their loved ones and to visit with friends and family.
Many desendants of the founding generation were there, sharing stories and family history with not only members of their families but with others in attendance.
Mountain Home serves as the final resting place for over 1,000 souls. Over 100 of them served in the military. They sacrificed their time at home with their family to serve in the Armed Forces to defend our country, our freedom, our way of life.
A lot of things have changed in the 165 years this beautiful place has been the cornerstone of the community. In the beginning, families lived close and remained local throughout their lives. Over the past few decades many have moved away, but a piece of them remains here – at Mountain Home.
Reflecting on what Memorial Day means, and the many sacrifices made by those who settled this area of the country and made it into a real community, thankfulness is the only emotion that takes over. The oldest marked grave is January 1864, but there are well over 100 graves in the original part of the cemetery marked only with a single stone bearing no indication of who is buried there. God knows who they are, and in the end that is all that matters.
Mountain Home is filled with people from all walks of life, and many ways they found themselves here. Young and old, and every age in between; further many from old age, terminal disease, or tragedy, they all contribute to the fabric that creates the rich history of this special place.
So, on this Memorial Day, as our nation is about to celebrate 250 years of independence and freedom, we are thankful to all who came before us and those who faught for our freedom in the past and those who continue to fight for our freedom today.