Several families and volunteers at a Fayette County cemetery are upset after many grave sites were left damaged and under piles of debris.”The only word I can use to describe it is heartbreaking,” Susane Borek said.Borek came to see her ancestor’s grave Wednesday.”Robert Skyles Jaquette is my third great-grandfather,” she said. “He fought in the Civil War, and probably the most famous battle that he fought in was the Battle of Gettysburg.”When Borek arrived at the site, she was shocked.”When I got to his tombstone, it was completely covered, it was broke off,” she said. “I could see part of the flag from his military marker underneath the rubble. I knew, unfortunately, that I was at his tombstone. I looked back up the hill, and saw a lot of other tombstones were covered as well.””It’s shocking to me,” said Borek’s daughter, Maddey. “How could someone cut trees and not care about the people buried here who fought in wars and things like that?”Jaquette’s tombstone had sat at the site since 1888.”That is my only connection to him, is being able to come to his grave and see his tombstone,” Susane Borek said.Oak Grove Cemetery supervisor Art Roll said he’s trying to get a hold of the company that was brought in. “It’s Gibson Tree Services,” Roll said. “They said, ‘We can do this with no problem.’ I came and found this. I called them. So far, I haven’t got a reply. I told them, you need to get back over here and clean your mess up. They made this mess.”Those with the tree service told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that the branches will be picked up soon, but the large logs of wood are free to take. They also said no families have reached out about damaged grave sites.As for those damaged grave sites, Roll is doing what he can to help.”I’ve cleaned up a lot of stones that got broken and knocked over and everything. I’ve picked them all back up the best I can,” he said. “I know it’s not the proper way, but I didn’t want it laying like that any more. I did what I could do for it.””To me, it’s just totally disrespectful, and hurts not just me but our entire community,” Susane Borek said. “I would like to see all of this cleaned up. If any of the other tombstones are damaged like my ancestor’s was, I think that they should be repaired as well and be brought back as close to how they were before this incident as possible.”The cemetery is bringing in new tree removal companies to take care of the rest of Oak Grove.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.

UNIONTOWN, Pa. —

Several families and volunteers at a Fayette County cemetery are upset after many grave sites were left damaged and under piles of debris.

“The only word I can use to describe it is heartbreaking,” Susane Borek said.

Borek came to see her ancestor’s grave Wednesday.

“Robert Skyles Jaquette is my third great-grandfather,” she said. “He fought in the Civil War, and probably the most famous battle that he fought in was the Battle of Gettysburg.”

When Borek arrived at the site, she was shocked.

“When I got to his tombstone, it was completely covered, it was broke off,” she said. “I could see part of the flag from his military marker underneath the rubble. I knew, unfortunately, that I was at his tombstone. I looked back up the hill, and saw a lot of other tombstones were covered as well.”

“It’s shocking to me,” said Borek’s daughter, Maddey. “How could someone cut trees and not care about the people buried here who fought in wars and things like that?”

Jaquette’s tombstone had sat at the site since 1888.

“That is my only connection to him, is being able to come to his grave and see his tombstone,” Susane Borek said.

Oak Grove Cemetery supervisor Art Roll said he’s trying to get a hold of the company that was brought in.

“It’s Gibson Tree Services,” Roll said. “They said, ‘We can do this with no problem.’ I came and found this. I called them. So far, I haven’t got a reply. I told them, you need to get back over here and clean your mess up. They made this mess.”

Those with the tree service told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that the branches will be picked up soon, but the large logs of wood are free to take. They also said no families have reached out about damaged grave sites.

As for those damaged grave sites, Roll is doing what he can to help.

“I’ve cleaned up a lot of stones that got broken and knocked over and everything. I’ve picked them all back up the best I can,” he said. “I know it’s not the proper way, but I didn’t want it laying like that any more. I did what I could do for it.”

“To me, it’s just totally disrespectful, and hurts not just me but our entire community,” Susane Borek said. “I would like to see all of this cleaned up. If any of the other tombstones are damaged like my ancestor’s was, I think that they should be repaired as well and be brought back as close to how they were before this incident as possible.”

The cemetery is bringing in new tree removal companies to take care of the rest of Oak Grove.

Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.