The American Cemetery in Cairo

Work is being done with the American Cemetery in Cairo –

THE AMERICAN CEMETERY IN CAIRO
January, 2017
When our first report, “Dear Children of the Presbyterian Mission in Egypt”, was written in 2012, the American Cemetery in Old Cairo was in deplorable condition. Trash was everywhere, bushes grew over graves, many graves were damaged or destroyed, walkways for visitors were lacking, and an old building, full of odds and ends, seemed ready to collapse near the wall behind the crypt.
Today, through the work of the “Friends of the American Cemetery”, engineers from the convent of Abu Sefein, donations from relatives of those buried in the cemetery, and growing awareness of the project by the newly-elected Chair of Properties and Endowments for the Synod of the Nile, Rev. Albert Louis, significant changes have been made. Rev. Louis has organized a committee, with a lawyer, to work with us.
A beautiful new gravestone for William Whiting Borden is now in place, thanks to the generosity of Bishop Mouneer Anis of All Saints’ Cathedral in Zamalek, who has also offered his help with our ongoing work. Rev. Canon Dr. John Ashley Null, Canon Theologian of the Anglican Diocese of Egypt, was inspired by William Whiting Borden’s short life, and felt that he should be honored in death with a renovated gravestone. Dr. Null is offering his help and advice with the cemetery as well.
New markers are being prepared for individuals to be memorialized at the American Cemetery. One is for Gloria and Albert Lion, at the request of their daughter, Margo Lion. The couple died in a plane crash in 1963. Another has resulted from research done by middle school students in Kansas on the career of Emma Darling Cushman, who is buried in our cemetery. She saved many Armenian orphans during World War I, and worked with the Near East Foundation. She died in Cairo in 1931. The students’ project is called “Emma Cushman, An Unsung Hero”; the new marker now being made for her will carry an inscription drawn up by the students.
The American Cemetery is the burial place of many who spent their lives working for the benefit of the Church in Egypt. Word about the cemetery is spreading, through the writings of journalists and of relatives of those here. It is our hope that the cemetery can become a lovely resting place for those buried there, a place for explorers, educators, travelers and families to visit and do research.
We continue to need financial help to pay for a full time caretaker and ongoing maintenance, and for repair and replacement of damaged graves. Your help is much appreciated; contributions may be sent to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Individual Remittance Processing
P. O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA. 15264-3700
Checks should carry the account number E052081 on the memo line; your covering letter should specify: for the American Cemetery Restoration Project, Cairo.
Gratefully,
Jean Isteero and Anne Shalaby, Project Coordinators
Nelle Evenhouse and Diana VanBogaert, Consultants
Greg Olson, Volunteer Researcher