Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn Inspiring All Who Visit | Page 7

The Tower
Destiny Santalucia, Grade 9

“Can we go climb the tower? Can we, can we,
can we?!” squealed little six-year-old me, bouncing up
and down. Climbing the tower at Mount Auburn was a
spring tradition I used to have with my Dad. I vaguely
remember little snippets of memories from back then.
Even though I hadn’t been to the tower, or really the
cemetery, in years, I drove by the wrought-iron fence and
main stone archway several times a week. I would drive
by not knowing how much history is contained behind
that gate, behind the fence. I would drive by and catch
little glimpses of headstones and statues between the
trees. But I never knew. I never knew that the archway
was designed in an Egyptian style. I never knew that
there were two chapels inside. I never knew that this one
area contained over 600 different types of trees. I never
knew how many famous and notable people are buried
there. Not until recently, that is, when I returned to the
cemetery for the first time in years.
By just driving by you can’t see the true beauty of the
cemetery; you have to go inside to see the beautifully
carved memorials and headstones and the breathtaking
foliage. There aren’t many places where you can see such
an enormous collection of nature and history as in Mount
Auburn. As a young child I didn’t realize these things or
fully appreciate them. But now I do, now I realize. I realize
how important it is to keep teaching people history.
Without those innovations made by people in the past,
where would we be today?

So many people in this cemetery have made a difference.
They discovered things, wrote poems and books, invented
things that have made an impact on our lives today. Poets,
engineers, writers, politicians, religious leaders, artists,
botanists, and many more. When I visited this March, one
particular man’s story stood out to me.This man had invented
the idea of a postal service. Can you imagine what it would
be like to not receive mail every day? Would modern ways
of sending mail, such as email, even exist if this man hadn’t
thought of mail? How would we communicate? So many
others like this man came up with ideas that influenced the
world, past time periods, the modern world, people’s ways
of life, and they are buried here in Mount Auburn. These
people fought in wars, won battles, created history. We can’t
just forget about them. We’d be nowhere without them.
The best way to learn history isn’t by reading a textbook,
memorizing dates and names, or listening to a teacher lecture
you. The best way is to go and see it with your own eyes, to
experience it. There are different ways of doing this—going
to museums, visiting landmarks—but one that many people
don’t even consider is a cemetery. Why go to a stuffy dark
museum, when you can go outside, get fresh air, even some
exercise? Cemeteries have earned a scary reputation, but
most people don’t realize how beautiful they can be.You’re
not just surrounded by the dead, you’re surrounded by the
past, by history. They’re not just for mourning loved ones.
We learn things from the past, we learn from mistakes
others have made. If we don’t keep learning about them,
then they may happen again. People get inspired by others,
living and dead, so let’s keep inspiring them.
Summer 2015 | 5