It’s remarkable how much can be accomplished with many helpers. The Żychlin Cemetery Project exceeded its goals thanks to 14 volunteers through the Association of Descendants of Jewish Central Poland working together with local residents, including the tireless Bogdan whose boss at Active Energy also donated the necessary equipment, residents of the Correctional Facility in Garbalin, students from Adam Mickiewicz school in Żychlin, Tomasz from the city of Żychlin, den mother Bożena Gajewska, and others.

The gentlemen fired up their mechanical saws and trimmers, and within two days had cleared the remaining 2/3 of our target site. Those of us who started out with loppers quickly realized that we were more needed hauling cut branches and trunks to the entrance of the cemetery where they were piled up for the city of Żychlin to pick up. On day three, students from the local school arrived at the perfect time to help remove rocks and smaller twigs that would interrupt the course of the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) equipment. Thursday and Friday were dedicated to laying the grid and running the GPR across the site at 25 meter increments.

This results in a mass of data that our GPR expert Claiborne Sea will analyze. Already last year, the results indicated a mass burial, unlike traditional grave burials in a number of key ways. With the data collected this year, we will be able to map the extent of the burial area. We will submit our report to the Polish authorities so that the site can be marked, memorialized, and maintained.

May these victims of some of the worst horrors perpetrated against another group of human beings be remembered; May their final resting place be shown the respect they deserve.

Luke picks up a few remaining sticks while Claiborne follows the grid lines with the GPR