Restoring Forgotten Graves and Preserving History
Starts With You
Reviving Abandoned Graves: Vermont Legacys Reclaimed
The rewards of preserving and restoring old Vermont cemeteries are many; personal, educational, historical, patriotic, for these cemeteries span the centuries - from the 18th century into the indeterminate future. VOCA holds two meetings each year, in a variety of settings: on the first Saturday in May, and the first Saturday in October. We urge you to consider participating in this dedicated endeavor by joining the Vermont Old Cemetery Association.
Our Organization
The Vermont Old Cemetery Association (VOCA) was founded in 1958 to encourage the restoration and preservation of neglected and abandoned cemeteries in the State of Vermont. Vermont cemeteries date back to the 1700's. They are memorials to the people who endured hardships to settle Vermont when it was a Republic, and to their many descendants. In many instances, there are no surviving members of families to watchdog and preserve their family gravestones. It is up to us to safeguard these sacred emblems.
Volunteer with us!
We have a packed season this year! Scroll through our calendar to find events near you.
Directions are on the “events” page of this website, on our Facebook, or available upon request.
The list may be changed due to weather or other unforeseen events.
Important Information
All projects are scheduled to run from 8:00 to noon unless otherwise stated.
Volunteers should bring gloves and shovels. If they have other tools available i.e., pry bars, rakes,
wheelbarrows etc. it would be appreciated if they bring them.
Don’t forget water and suncreen!
Recent Articles about VOCA
Recent Articles about VOCA
Click the images below to read, listen or watch more!
NBC5 covered our 2024 cemetery clean up in Milton!
Mountain Times, ‘They threw up a white flag’, July 17th, 2024
VOCA Volunteer 2024, PEGTV Rutland, October, 2024
PEGTV Rutland’s episode of Historically Speaking - Saving Evergreen Cemetery, July 2024
Join our Facebook Community
Check out our Newsfeed with photos and information from our last event!
Read Our Most Recent Newsletter
If you hear about something in the news or in your community that you think would make a good item for our web page, please drop us an email. Links to relevant articles and pictures are appreciated.
If you have a story that you want to tell about a Vermont cemetery, gravestone, cemetery project, or other cemetery related matter, please contact us at your ealiest convenience. Pictures to help tell the story are also very much appreciated.
If you have an instruction, correction, addition, or subtraction for the web site, our contact information is given below.
If you have an idea for a new web page or new content for the web site, we are all ears.
If you have information about a Vermont cemetery that will expand, enhance or correct our database, please contact our Cemetery Database Administrator.
Contact:
Website, Bailey McLaughlin
vtoldcemetery.website@gmail.com