To The Editor:

On July 24, our daughter Shelley and her husband, Nick, celebrated the birth and mourned the death of their infant son all in the same moment. The past month has been heartbreaking as we all learn to navigate our lives without our precious Henry.

On August 29, Shelley and Nick had to make the difficult visit to the monument company to choose Henry’s headstone for his plot in the Angel’s Walk area at St Rose Cemetery. Because they live out of town, they were coming home for dinner after visiting the cemetery. I knew this would be a difficult day, so I left work early to greet them at home.

I wasn’t surprised when Shelley walked in sobbing, attributing her emotions to having to make the headstone selection. Imagine my disgust when she told me that when they arrived at the cemetery, there was a fresh pile of dog poop directly on Henry’s grave site.

It amazes me that anyone would be so careless and callous as to leave their dog’s pile on the top of any grave. Shame on you. I’m trying to assume you weren’t there and your dog was on his own. However, this is still unacceptable.

My fellow Newtowners and specifically the neighbors of the St Rose Cemetery:

1. All cemeteries are sacred places. It is not a park. Walk elsewhere.

2. Your dog should be on a leash — not free to roam.

3. Pick up after your dog.

The next time you let your dog loose to do his business or don’t pick up after him, please picture the image of grieving parents standing over the grave of their infant son. Flowers should be the only addition.

Thank you.

Janis Solheim

11 Harvest Common Road, Sandy Hook August 30, 2018