We let the dogs in

AS A MEMBER--though not a spokesman--of the Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery, I found Mark Stricherz's "Who Let the Dogs Out?" (June 13) to be lacking in some simple research. First, Congress did not found Congressional Cemetery; it is, and always has been, a private, nonprofit organization owned by Christ Church since 1812.

Regarding historical information on those interred here, if you check out the Association's website, www.congressionalcemetery.org, you'll find information on over 20,000 of the 60,000 people interred at the cemetery. I challenge you to find another private cemetery with that much information on its denizens. All of that data was collected on a volunteer basis (by a dogwalker, in fact).

Finally, as for the supposed intentional abuse of the Hoover family gravesite, in the eight years I have been associated with Congressional Cemetery, I have never seen or heard of anyone letting dogs into the Hoover fenced area for any reason. Natalie Yoder, who is not a member of the Association, could only have made that statement in a poor attempt at humor.

The dogwalking program causes some maintenance issues, but there are many more positive results. The turn-around in the fortunes of Congressional Cemetery over the last few years is a direct result of the dedication and hands-on sweat equity of scores of Capitol Hill dogwalkers.

PATRICK CROWLEY

Washington, DC

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