Mt. McCaleb Cemetery Veteran's Graves Each Honored With A U.S. Flag - May 24 2013

Back in 2002, I walked the Mt McCaleb Cemetery in Mackay (Custer County) Idaho and photographed EVERY headstone (approximately 1,500). I, then worked on entering all of the data from the headstones and photos to findagrave.com. ( link: http://www.findagrave.com ). As you may imagine, this was a daunting task, but I LOVED working on it! I love our cemetery in Mackay, Idaho and all of my deceased maternal relatives are buried here (below the Malkiewicz-Lundberg graves)! We decorate with yellow mums each year because Mom loved them. My headstone will be here too when it is time.

I made a typed plat map of the cemetery. You might think I was proficient at making things like this - I WAS NOT and it took me a long time to create.

We (Earl Lockie and I) enlarged and framed the plat map for display at the cemetery. Harold Smith's family provided the little open kiosk building for the display and cemetery book.

Since, 2002, I have kept a typed excel Cemetery Book for the Mt. McCaleb Cemetery so people can find their graves. Sample Section:

City Manager, Ken Day, keeps the official cemetery book at Mackay City Hall and he HELPED me identify the location of more than 7 pages of graves that were missing from my list. I WANTED TO HUG THIS MAN!!!!

Before this time, it was a "wander around the cemetery" to find your graves.

Each Memorial Day, the American Legion and the local scouts place a memorial U.S. Flag on each veteran's gave (approximately 200 at this time). Locating the veteran's graves has always been a challenge and NOT MISSING any even a more or a formidable task. Hence, this year, I wanted to create a document that could used by the flag bearers showing the location of all the veteran's graves. I had a really good start on the project with Jani and Robbyn arrived to HELP ME - thank the universe! They literally spent days in the cemetery verifying  the location of graves and updating the excel list.

I made arrangements with he Olsen's for the local Cub and Boy Scouts, along with Scoutmaster Wayne Olsen and the Commander of the local American Legion, Campbell Gardett to meet at the cemetery this morning to place a U.S. Flag at each veteran's grave using the NEW SYSTEM. I was so happy to see so much help this morning!

Scoutmaster Wayne Olsen instructed the scouts on why we honor veterans in this way and how to place the U.S. Flag in their honor locations at each veteran's grave. 

Each adult leader took scouts and a bundle of flags and off they went in a systematic way to mark the veteran's graves. The flags will be picked up and stored at the American Legion on the evening of Memorial Day until next year. 

(Above) Cubs and Boy Scouts who lent a hand included L to R Standing Adults: Judy Malkiewicz, Jani Malkiewicz, Lana Pehrson, Wayne Olsen, Lucky Rogers and his daughter, Cassie Rogers, Shirley Olsen, Campbell Gardett. Boys L to R: Christopher Ivie, Nolan Moorman, Bryson Woodbury, Danny Robertson, Nick Burroughs, Lafe Gamett, Jayden Bell, Cassie Rogers, Caleb Hampton, and Joey Robertson.

Cub Scouts from Pack 98, Jayden Bell, Caleb Hampton, and Lafe Gamett (below) were great helpers!

Mackay Barbecue 2012 Part 2 of 4 - September 15 2012

The Mackay BBQ Oven was fired with wood for a full 24 hours from Thursday afternoon, September 13th until the 14th. Then, the metal doors were loosely shut while the roast beef is prepared at the Mackay Fire Hall. Mackay's Assistant Fire Chief, Ken Day, closes the metal doors loosely. He measured the temperature at 950 degrees PLUS (the thermometer only goes to 950 and then says "HI" for anything greater).

Mackay BBQ Preparations Continue - September 15 2012
South Custer Historical Society volunteers Dave Wilson and Earl Lockie were at the Mackay Tourist Park setting up for tomorrow's barbecue. Don't forget to stop tomorrow and buy baked goods to support the historical society!

Most people who have not helped with the barbecue believe the meat is cooked over burning wood embers inside the barbecue oven.  However, the wood embers are only used to heat the brick structure of the barbecue oven and removed before the meat is place in the oven.  Accordingly, when the meat is placed in the oven late Friday night, the heat from the bricks of the oven cooks the meat.

On Friday night before Barbecue Saturday a large group of volunteers met at the Mackay Fire Hall (previously at Lin Hintze’s Big Lost River Meats, and before that at Ivies IGA).  

Back over to the Mackay Fire Hall for the roast preparation. 2,000 pounds of roast beef!

An assembly line is formed and a group of volunteers prepare the 2,000 pounds of purchased beef roasts.  Each roast weighs approximately 30 pounds when removed from the boxes. Carvers removed the plastic covering on each roast and cut the roasts down to a uniform size about the size of a football or 10 pounds. Holes are stabbed into each roast and garlic is stuffed inside. The garlic was purchased peeled this year (in the past, volunteers had to peel the garlic first).  

Holes were cut in to each roast and garlic stuffed inside each hole.  

Each roast is rolled in a large tub of donated Lost River Seasonings (Pauline Chaney Layne's recipe) and dropped in to a cheese cloth bag.

Finally, each roast is double wrapped in tinfoil.

The wrapped roasts are placed on the barbecue cart shelving (5 total) after each shelf is covered with 2 layers of tinfoil. Below is the rolling cart that the 5 shelves fit on. This year (2012), the five empty shelves were taken to the Mackay Fire Hall on Daryn and Stacey Moorman's flatbed trailer to be loaded with wrapped roasts and returned to the Mackay Tourist Park.

Just before the wrapped roasts on the shelving arrives at the Mackay Tourist Park from the Mackay Fire Hall, volunteers from Mackay's all-volunteer Fire Department got the the Tourist Park and remove the wood embers from the barbecue oven. This is done quickly to maintain the temperature of the oven brick lining.

After all the racks are packed with wrapped roasts, the rolling cart is rolled into the barbecue oven - this is a HEAVY endeavor and requires many men. Finally, rock salt is placed on top to prevent the meat from burning.

A large pan of water is placed under the rolling cart to add moisture to the cooking process.

One new volunteer was heard to say, “I always thought these guys were just down here partying before the barbecue.”  She couldn’t believe the incredible amount of labor the dedicated volunteer crew goes through to put on the Mackay Barbecue each year.

The barbecue oven is then quickly sealed (shown below the morning of barbecue before the oven was opened.

Western Store Mackay Idaho September 14 2012

Employee Holly Sayer helps Ken Day at the Western Store today, September 14 2012

Light Pole Replaced on Mackay Main Street - July 31 2012

Ken Day and Terry Ulhenhopp replace the repaired light pole on the corner of Main Street and Highway 93 (aka Custer Street) after it was damaged by a truck last winter. July 31 2012

Blast from the Past - Community Church Rehearsal September 19 2004

New street lights for Mackay Idaho Main Street October 12 2011

 Mackay City Foreman, Ken Day October 12 2011

 New Main Street light pole in front of McConnell's building (former Lion's Club) with former Texaco behind - October 12 2011

Guest Photos from Earl Lockie

Ken Day, City Manager does a little street cleaning on Mackay Main Street April 29 2011

City of Mackay Foreman Ken Day and Assistants Work on Sewer Line March 18 2011

Mackay City Foreman Ken Day Putting Sand Down on Mackay Main Street December 9 2010

Mackay Idaho Water Meter Reading

Ken Day of the City of Mackay reads all of the water meters in town from his bike. His electronic wand reads each meter without opening it.

Turning Water On May 12 2010

Mackay City Foreman, Ken Day, turns outside water on for many residents after a long winter.