"He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years."
Linda Ellis
Excerpt From The Dash Poem
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To restore, enhance and maintain the Western State Hospital cemetery.
To recognize and dignify the surroundings for those buried and to replace existing markers with a stone bearing their names.
Our guiding principle is to build awareness and respect for persons living with mental health challenges.
"He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years."
Laurel is the founder and Chair of Grave Concerns. Her guiding principle is the restoration of dignity for those affected by mental health challenges. Since 2000, Laurel has brought revived life and purpose to this Lakewood Cemetery, drawing together volunteers, medical professionals, and out-of-state family members who converge from many places to participate in events at this humble cemetery in Pierce County.
Carol has been an original founding board member since the organization’s inception in 2000. There is scarcely sufficient space to fully acknowledge her contributions. She is committed, consistent, forthright in her approach to addressing emerging needs. GCA is successful in large part due to Carol's contributions.
Cyndie is an indispensable anchor for the Board and has provided many years of dedicated service to GCA. She oversees and manages the organization’s administrative responsibilities with care and consistency.
Syed worked for 13 years in the technology field prior to becoming disabled. He completed his undergraduate degree at WGU in 2017, earning recognition for a model student capstone, and pursued studies in divinity at Harvard. He continues to contribute where possible, seeking to enrich his own life while giving back to the community.