Dear Editor:

On Sept. 2, I received a letter from the Boothbay Region Cemetery District about the removal of all trees from Ocean View Cemetery. My family's plot is in the cemetery, on the right side next to the utility shed.

The two trees planted on the plot were planted shortly after my twins were born so my parents had their own grandchildren to grow up with. We decorated them every winter with the girls.

My sister over-trimmed them, I thought, but they grew on me. It was kind of her contribution to the trees; they became whimsical and fit just right.

The letter I received stated to "remove the trees by Sept. 14 or we will send a crew to remove them on the 15th."

I drove to the cemetery on the 14th with my daughter, Heather, and my 1-year-old grandson, Cole, to take some final photos and survey the idea of moving the twin trees back home. When we turned into the cemetery, I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing -- the trees were gone, cut down.

What is up, cemetery district? You couldn't honor the date? Why were you in such a hurry to cut down my trees?

I possess the quit claim deed to that property, dated 1958. I think that cutting those trees was illegal, especially without my permission. I believe it is a form of criminal mischief and degradation of a grave-site.

Thank you, cemetery district, for depriving us a family memory.

One last note: I heard the stand of trees in the back of the cemetery was not getting removed. What's up with that? Shouldn't the town selectmen be told of this.

Marc Brewer

Boothbay Harbor