I can attest to everything that Ken says. Tom is making every effort to make atonement for his actions. Neither of the other two have made any offers. I publicly commend Tom for the approach he is taking. He is accepting responsibility for his actions and feels deeply disturbed at what he did. I'll share something with you all that he said to me. While in jail, he was thinking of his mother who has some serious health problems. He thought of the possible brief time she has left and wondered how he would feel if somebody did to her tombstone what he did to others. It was at that point that he made a decision that he would make every effort to make right the wrongs he did. Today started somewhat difficult for me and I think Ken M. shared that feeling. We were told in advance that Tom would be assisting and I'll be totally honest, I had no idea how I was going to react to him being there. After somewhat a tense start, it became apparent that this boy was very sincere in his attempt to make atonement. As much as I wanted to be mad at him, my heart goes out to him. I don't want anybody to think I condone what was done. It is as despicable of an act today as it was the day it happened. There aren't any excuses for the acts and he said as much. He told us that he would help every Saturday we worked until the repairs were done. He needs desperately to spend time around people who will have a positive influence on him rather than lead him down the road to destruction. If Ken Murtiff and I have been delegated to be among the people to help in turning his life around, I'll gladly accept the assignment and am sure Ken will as well. At 04:21 PM 8/9/2003 -0400, you wrote: >Hi List!! > >I would like to be brief about this. This regarding the Cemetery. I had the >oppurtunity to talk to one of the boys who were part of the vandalism rampage >as well as having his assistance in the repairs. > >I'm doing this since it was requested by him to do so. Regardless of how >angry some may be over this and their opinion on what should happen to >them, we >need to understand a little about Tom. >Tom appears to be a very smart kid with a good head on his shoulders atleast >to move in the right direction. Though there are some indications that is >obvious that he has taken the wrong path. >It's clear to see that he knows what he did and has excepted responsibility >and is taken the steps to atleast in some small way pay back the community >with >service. >Even though his childhood has been troubled doesn;t mean that what he did >should be swept under the carpet, also I feel it's not all his fault in >the same >token. Yes he made those decisions himself. >Tom feels also that since he broke them he should atleast help fix them. >I hope this will be a turning point in his life as equally I hope all of us >that take part in the repairs will have a positive impact on him. >It was requested that he Thanks everyone for their part in the effort to >repair and all assitance in every form that has been received. >I personally would like to thank everyone for coming together from near and >afar to atleast contribute in some way and that in itself says just how >important our history is. > >Sincerly, >Ken Murtiff > > >==== PAHUNTIN Mailing List ==== >Visit the Huntingdon county PaGenWeb site at >http://www.rootsweb.com/~pahuntin for information on county resources, >cemeteries and other research information. > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, >go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 Ken Boonie Coordinator, PaGenWeb Project Huntingdon County http://www.rootsweb.com/~pahuntin/ Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.