Car show at Roseville cemetery draws complaints
Some family members who have loved ones buried at a Roseville cemetery are expressing anger over a weekend car show to be held on the grounds.
Nicole Roatch said she visits Roselawn Cemetery to mourn her brother-in-law who was killed in a car accident. Roatch says hot rods, a DJ and barbecue have no place in the peaceful cemetery.
"We shouldn't hold car shows where we bury our dead," she said. "It's just inappropriate to me."
Roselawn superintendent Larry Hudella tells KARE-TV that the cemetery received about 20 calls of complaint Monday morning.
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"I'm from this area, and I can't think of anyone I know who doesn't have someone here, and we're all upset," Roatch said.
Hudella said he doesn't think the car show is disrespectful.
"It's really not going to be on anyone's graves," Hudella said. "It's just a fun thing. A community event."
Hudella said the idea to hold the "Rods and Stones" car show at the cemetery came after about a founding member of the Minnesota Street Rod Association was buried at Roselawn.
The groundskeeper noticed many classic cars were driven to the burial.
"We found out that a lot of the guys who were members of that have family buried here," Hudella said.
Despite Hudella's reassurances, Roatch said she is still apprehensive and that she and other family members plan to protest outside the event.
"It's still within the parameters of a place that we hold sacred," she said.
Hudella said there are no plans to cancel the show.