AUGUSTA — The Association for Gravestone Studies board of trustees has selected Marilyn Burgess, Leeds, as a recipient of the Oakley Certificate of Merit.

The award is given to groups or individuals who “…foster appreciation of the cultural significance of gravestones and burying grounds,” and it is in recognition of her work with Maine’s old cemeteries.

Burgess served for many years as legislative liaison for the Maine Old Cemetery Association and continues to serve as vandalism liaison. She has been effective in implementing actions that have made many folks in Maine and elsewhere aware of Maine’s cemeteries, their importance and tasks that an individual can undertake to make a difference in the preservation/protection and care of cemeteries.

She keeps interested persons informed, writes editorials to newspapers, testifies at legislative hearings, follows up with local court officials and police and sheriff’s departments to be sure that vandals are not treated lightly. She is an effective advocate for Maine’s cemeteries.

The Oakley Award is presented periodically by the AGS board of trustees at the annual conference, to individuals and groups that have helped to advance the mission of the association.

Named for long-time members Rosalee and Fred Oakley, the certificate of merit is designed to honor those whose work in the field of gravestone studies may have gone unnoticed or is worthy of recognition by AGS.

The annual conference at Monmouth College in West Long Branch, N.J., in June. Burgess was not able to attend and her award was presented by MOCA President Cheryl Willis Patten at a Sept. 29 meeting in Hiram.

For more information, visit http://www.gravestonestudies.org or http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~memoca/moca.htm.

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