Mt. Tabor-Danby Historical Society presents
Grave Matters
by Tom Giffin, Vermont Old Cemetery Association
7 p.m. Monday October 2, 2023
Ground floor of Griffith Memorial Library
73 South Main St., Danby
The Vermont Old Cemetery Association (VOCA) was established in 1958 to preserve and restored Vermont's neglected and abandoned Cemeteries. VOCA President, Tom Giffin will discuss the mission of VOCA and the challenges facing Vermont's cemeteries. He will also provide information on cemetery restoration and what communities can do to preserve and maintain their historic burial grounds.
Tom Giffin has been a member since introduced to VOCA in 1984 and president since 2001. He holds two Master degrees in education and was a licensed Social Studies/English teacher. Tom spent many years with his mother doing genealogical research in countless cemeteries in Vermont, which led to his interest in preserving Vermont's burial grounds. He has been instrumental in using many community groups including middle school students, high school and college football teams, legislators, Department of Corrections work crews, civic organizations and even a Vermont 4-wheeler club to restore Vermont's almost 2000 cemeteries.