By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Members of Leadership Del Rio Class 12 have presented donated checks totaling more than $1,000 to an organization working to preserve and restore one of the area’s most historic cemeteries.
Rufina “Ruby” Adams, Jureza Moselina and Deanna Esquivel attended Wednesday’s meeting of Los Amigos de la Loma, a group established to look after the historic Cementerio Loma de la Cruz, located south of the Del Rio city limits near the Loma de la Cruz, the Hill of the Cross, a prominent landmark.
Los Amigos de la Loma President Anna Chapman opened the meeting, which was held in the conference room at Texas Community Bank and welcomed those who attended. Chapman conducted the group’s business meeting, which included a review of the group’s ongoing and future projects.
Chapman announced the group is planning a re-dedication of the cemetery during the biennial San Felipe Exes reunion scheduled for Sept. 1 and Sept. 2.
Chapman also told the group the members of Leadership Del Rio Class 12 had donated a $430 bench that has been placed inside the cemetery, allowing visitors to the historic site a place to rest and reflect.
After the business meeting concluded, Chapman recognized the three members of the Leadership Del Rio Class 12.
Adams, Moselina and Esquivel introduced themselves and spoke about the Leadership Del Rio program, which is operated under the umbrella of the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce.
Adams handed out copies of a presentation she and her colleagues had prepared, titled “Living History: Loma de la Cruz Cemetery Project.”
Adams began by explaining Leadership Del Rio is a program designed to promote Del Rio’s present and future leaders. She said its members represent various facets of the community, noting she represented the school district, Moselina represented the hospital and Esquivel is a member of the business community.
“One of the things we focus on is learning more about our community, and the first event we had was touring Del Rio and many of the different places that Del Rio has to offer . . . One of the first place we stopped was La Loma de la Cruz, and for me, personally, it was exciting, because I’ve lived in Del Rio since 2000, and I’ve passed by it many times, but I have never stopped,” Adams said.
She added part of the Leadership Del Rio curriculum is taking on a specific project to benefit the community.
“Right away, our committee, which included Jureza Moselina, Deanna Esquivel and also Cole Edwards, immediately said, this was something that really stood out to us, helping the association,” she added.
“We wanted to work to promote awareness of this beautiful cemetery . . . We wanted to see what we could do to help you,” Adams said.
Adams said the group saw that the cemetery grounds were rough and uneven and could be difficult for visitors to walk on. She said the committee decided to work to raise funds to give to the cemetery association for installing walkways on the cemetery grounds.
Adams said she and the other committee members solicited donations from community leaders and businesses and planned a “Living History” event at the cemetery on May 13. But after publicizing the event and inviting the donors, the event had to be canceled when severe thunderstorms passed through the area the night before.
Adams and her group thanked the sponsors, including The Bank & Trust, Buffalo Wings & Rings, Val Verde County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. and Mrs. Sylvia Owens, Brown Automotive Center, Cadena Family Practice and Texas Community Bank.
Adams, Moselina and Esquivel then presented the checks to Chapman and the members of Los Amigos de la Loma.
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