Last week’s Phoenix contained both an article and editorial regarding the issue of spectators at Mt. Hope High School sporting events parking their vehicles in St. Mary’s Cemetery, and while both the article and editorial gave these individuals the benefit of the doubt and attributed their behavior to a simple mistake, I wholeheartedly disagree with that notion.

Parking your vehicle at St. Mary’s Cemetery just because it’s closer and more convenient than utilizing the Mt. Hope High School parking lot is not only the epitome of laziness, but it also shows a complete lack of respect for the individuals interred at the cemetery along with their loved ones.

In addition, St. Mary’s Cemetery has now been forced to install new locking gates at their five entrances, which is not only a considerable expense to them, but it also restricts friends and family of the deceased from driving into the cemetery and visiting their loved ones when these gates are closed and locked. 

It’s quite a sad example of the state of our society when inconsiderate individuals show a complete lack of respect for the dead by utilizing the cemetery as their personal parking area just so they can save a few steps. 

Mike Proto
Bristol