State will investigate abandoned cemetery

A state official promised to investigate the apparent abandonment of a local cemetery in which over 60 veterans rest.

State Assembly Member 56 th District Eduardo Garcia said it’s unacceptable that veterans should be resting at Memory Gardens, an abandoned cemetery on Highway 86 between El Centro and Brawley.

“I’ve been asked to look into the matter and see what the state agency that oversees funerals and facilities, as well as cemeteries, and try to bring forward some greater accountability on the owners of this facility,” Garcia said.

He visited the cemetery on Saturday morning and met with several volunteers working to restore it. He told them he’s launching an investigation.

“The first is identifying the owner. The second is understanding what existing state laws say about the maintenance of privately-owned facilities. In this case, we’re talking about the cemetery. And third, really, it’s about engaging the community as a whole and those who have loved ones buried here,” Garcia said.

Memory Gardens has been allegedly neglected by owners for years.

“It’s a shame that we’ve gotten to a place where our veterans here, who are laid down to rest, are having to, unfortunately, be at a place that has been abandoned,” Garcia said.

Restoration work organizer Cruz Abarca said he’s encouraged by Garcia’s pledge.

“It energizes me because it gives me hope. And I’ve been yelling into the wind for so long that I finally see that hope that my voice has been heard,” Garcia said.

Abarca, veteran and cancer survivor, said he will continue working every Saturday morning to restore the cemetery, this with the help and support of his loving wife, family, friends and volunteers.

“I truly believe that this is the right thing, that we need to step up as a society and give back the honor and respect that these people who are interned out here deserve,” Abarca concluded.

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