A family had a difficult time trying to honor veterans.
Saturday morning, they had to dodge horse manure trying to put flags on their graves at the Bell Town Cemetery.
It's hard to tell, but the weed-covered land, also covered in horse manure, is a cemetery full of veterans.
The family has been trying to visit their loved ones graves on and off for the last ten years, but it has not been an easy task. Joe Townsend, who owns the land surrounding the cemetery, has often kept the gate into the cemetery locked.
Townsend has been under investigation by the Cheatham County District Attorney's Office, as well as by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservations.
An illegal dump nearby has been one of the reasons the Joyce family believes it's been so difficult to visit the graveyard.
"He has it locked up here illegally. That’s a county road. Everyone should be able to come into this graveyard at any time," said Lawrence Joyce.
While the surrounding property owner has often locked the gate to the cemetery, Saturday it was open.
Another veteran who came to honor their graves was overtaken by emotions when he saw the condition of the graveyard.
"My brother here was a lieutenant in the army. He served in Vietnam, but yet they don’t want him in here to see his family," said Bobby Leib, of Pilgrim.
The Joyce family said they're not giving up, especially when it comes to respecting those who fought.
