The pioneers who settled Erda and were buried in unmarked cemeteries will be honored this weekend at the dedication of a monument in their memory.

“In today’s world sometimes we get caught up and we don’t remember our past and history,” said Chad Allred, stake president of the Stansbury Park Utah South Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which spearheaded the project. “This is a wonderful opportunity to honor those that have prepared the way before us.”

The memorial was built as a focal point for several old cemeteries in the area. Although the exact locations of the cemeteries are unknown, Allred said it’s been determined there are about three small, unmarked cemeteries in the Erda area that have been covered over by fields or buildings.

“It’s uncertain exactly where the cemeteries are, so that’s why we opted to generalize it — not that it makes it any less important,” he said. “We reverence those cemeteries and the individuals buried there very much.”

One particular cemetery is believed to contain 18 graves, based on research done by family members of those thought to be buried there.

“The church felt it was a very worthy and important thing to create this monument to memorialize the early settlers and also those pioneer cemeteries,” Allred said.

The memorial was funded by the LDS church, but all labor was donated by community and church members.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, there will be a dedication service in the Erda chapel on Erda Way that is open to anyone in the community. There will also be several speakers, many of whom are the ancestors of those who established Erda. After the dedicatory meeting, the memorial will be unveiled outside on the west side of the building. Light refreshments will then be served.

“This provides a place for the many families of pioneer settlers to be reminded about the past,” said Allred. “It’s a place to remember those that have prepared the way before us.”

Sarah Miley: swest@tooeletranscript.com What: Erda pioneers cemetery monument dedication

When: Saturday, 11 a.m.

Where: Erda Chapel