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Recently CCBA officers came across a document
which gave perspective to CCBA’s involvement with the
Chinese section of Mt. Hope Cemetery. The document stated
that in the 1930s, CCBA bought a piece of land in the
city-owned Mt. Hope Cemetery to provide a temporary burial
ground for Chinese sojourners whose remains would eventually
be sent home to their final resting place, sometimes
arranged by CCBA with community donations. The practice of
“going home” in death was disrupted by the war in China
against Japanese aggression and later by WWII and the
conflict between the Nationalist and the Communist Parties.
So here they remain, in a foreign land where they call home
in their afterlife.
CCBA officers and
advisors of CCBA visited Mt. Hope Cemetery on several
occasions this past winter and spring at the request of a
few community leaders. The purpose for our visits is to pay
respect to the deceased, to survey and take note aspects of
the Chinese section that needs attention.
Wingkay leung,
Karen Lee and Thomas Sullivan
Observations from these visits were reported
at the May general Board meeting and ideas were discussed.
The Mt. Hope Committee was formed. Heading the Committee is
the President of CCBA, Mr. Wingkay Leung. Members include
Robert Leung, Hung Goon, Michael K.Y. Wong, Larry Young,
Henry Yee, Betty Wing, and the 4 officers of CCBA.
An initial meeting was held at the Empire
Garden Restaurant with committee members. Kenneth Bennett
from Waterman & Sons Funeral Home and the Chan brothers from
Wing Fook Funeral Home were invited to the meeting as
advisors. Both parties gave valuable advice. The Committee
will move forward and plan next steps for this project.
The officers recently paid another visit to
Mt. Hope Cemetery and chatted with Mr. Thomas Sullivan, the
General Superintendent of Cemeteries. Our preliminary plan
was reviewed with Mr. Sullivan who is in consensus and more
than happy to participate and assist with our project. He
offered to make available the catalogues containing
information of the remains and their resting places to the
officers in order to index the information.
Much more need to be done before actual work
can commence on the Mt. Hope project so please stay tuned
for further updates.
Mt. Hope Pictures |
