Seventh Grader Starts ProjectCemetery After Visiting Friends Grave

July 10, 2017 - The hashtag #ProjectCemetery was started by Trent Sims, a 7th grader at Shelbyville, after his mother, Brandi Hodges, took him to the cemetery to help him cope with the death of his friend, Victor Lee. Lee was the 13-year old who died in a bus crash in May of this year.

Photo by Brandi HodgesHodges said, "Trent understands concrete things" so to help with Trent's understanding, she took him to the cemetery to visit his friend. Lee's grave had flowers and other items and Trent didn't understand why the other graves didn't have flowers as well. According to Hodges Facebook post, while on the way back to their vehicle Trent started putting what he could into the empty vases saying "I think that Victor would like that I did that and he would have probably helped me if he were still here."

#LoveLikeVictor is a hashtag which began following the tragic crash. Friends and family of Victor rallied to offer support to the family who were now faced with burying a child too early in life. The hashtag has special meeting for Trent who is not just wearing it on a t-shirt but is spreading love in life to not just the living but also to those who have passed away by honoring them with flowers.

Trent is collecting flowers to put on graves which are without flowers. According to Hodges, #ProjectCemetery day has been set for Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 7pm at Oaklawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 3 miles east of Center on Highway 7. Thanks to the support of many, Trent has collected a lot of flowers and invites everyone to come out and help him fill the cemetery with flowers or just come out to support. Trent's favorite flower color is a light blue.

Among those supporting #ProjectCemetery, was the VFW Post 8904 and Dairy Queen. On Monday, July 10, 2017 the VFW Post 8904 and the Auxiliary made a $100 donation to Trent. Post Quartermaster Larry Hume thanked Trent for honoring those in the cemetery which includes many veterans who are buried there as well. Trent commented he had seen flags on several of the graves.

Following his visit with the VFW Post 8904, Trent and his mom went to Dairy Queen for a treat and were honored to receive another donation from Jan Allen for $100 to help with #ProjectCemetery.

Many other individuals have made donations of flowers or money in support of this project making it possible. If you would like to help, message Brandi Hodges via Facebook and they will come and pickup the donation or flower donations can be dropped off at the Light and Champion, Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm.

Read Facebook posts by Brandi Hodges on 'Love Like Victor' which explains how #ProjectCemetery got started.