Please join us this Saturday (10:00am) at the Sandgate Community Table (SCT) breakfast gathering.

Tom Giffin, President of the Vermont Old Cemetery Association will be joining us [on his birthday!]. Sandgate has FIVE old cemeteries, which document much of the fascinating history of our town!

The Vermont Old Cemetery Association was established in 1958 to preserve and restore Vermont's neglected and abandoned Cemeteries. Mr. 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. See his full bio below.

Please join us and encourage a neighbor to come too. See you Saturday!

For more information, call 802-227-4404 or write sandgate.community.table@gmail.com

BIO:
Tom Giffin is the President of the Vermont Old Cemetery Association.  He 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 has led to his interest in preserving Vermont's burial grounds.  He has been instrumental in utilizing many community groups including middle school students, high school/college football teams, legislators, department of correction work crews, civic organizations and even a Vermont 4-wheeler club in his efforts to restore Vermont's almost 2000 cemeteries.  

 In addition to his passion for cemetery preservation, Tom is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, First Families of Vermont, Mayflower Association, Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, National Society Descendants of American Farmers, Lady Godiva Society and the cemetery commissioner for Rutland City.  He was awarded the Historical Preservation Award from the Vermont Daughters of the American Revolution for his efforts in preserving Vermont's colonial burial grounds. Tom was also recognized by The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and was awarded the Good Citizenship Medal and Roger Sherman Medal for his service to the Vermont SAR.

Tom is an 8 th generation Vermonter and lives in Rutland, Vermont with his long-suffering wife, Barbara, who shares his passion for history and genealogy. They have 3 adult children, Justin, Rachel, and Jonathan who have also endured trips (too numerous to count) to VOCA events and cemetery visits throughout Vermont during their childhood.

Event Info

Dec 5, 7 PM to 2 PM, Dec 8, 2024

Dec 6, 2024, 5 to 8 PM

Dec 7, 2024, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM