Just last weekend a terrible and shameful thing happened in Montville. Close to 40 headstones in the Hallandale Cemetery were vandalized.

However angry, or “bored”, or alienated one feels from his or her community, there is simply no excuse for this. There’s not a single person in Montville, or any town that I’m aware of, who wants to see the memories of his or her ancestors, friends or neighbors disrespected in this horrible way.

Fortunately, a group of residents is already dealing with getting the cemetery back to its previous well-maintained condition. There will be a clean up Saturday, August 16, starting at 9 a.m. For more information about that email the Montville Cemetery Committee at nanatha19@gmail.com.

Much of the restoration work has to be done professionally and will be costly, so to support the Halldale Cemetery repair/restoration, please visit: gofundme.com/f/support-halldale-cemetery-restoration.

If anyone has any information about the incident, please do not hesitate contacting the Waldo County Sheriff at 338-2420.

Rep. Mike Ray lives in Lincolnville and represents Appleton, Islesboro, Liberty, Lincolnville, Montville, Morrill, and Searsmont in the Maine Legislature.