On the east end of Summit Hill sit a number of cemeteries.

Thousands of people who once called the area home are laid to rest here.The deceased range from infants to the elderly, and each marble gravestone sits silently like a gatekeeper reminding visitors that these souls each have a story - some rich with lavished accomplishments and realized hopes and dreams; while others weathered and hardened by the harsh conditions of war, poverty and heartbreak.One cemetery in particular, the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, sits along East White Street, boasts deep roots in Carbon County's history and has many secrets and stories buried 6 feet underground.The cemetery dates back to 1854 when it was established through a land grant from the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company and was incorporated in 1879 before being taken over by Connor Post 177, Grand Army of the Republic, in the late 1880s.Today, in addition to thousands of people from generations long ago, the cemetery is the final resting place of at least 76 known Civil War veterans, ranging from a bugler to a captain.The directors of the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Association and local historian Joe Nihen are partnering together to breathe life back into 19 of these soldiers by telling their stories in a new walking cemetery tour.The first Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Civil War Veterans Tour will take place at 11 a.m. May 28, said David Wargo, GAR Cemetery president. People should meet at the GAR maintenance building on East White Street.Tours will then take place at 11 a.m. on the third Saturday of the month from June through September.Wargo said there is a 30 adult limit. Tickets are $10 for adults; children under 12 are free. Proceeds will benefit the cemetery operations.Nihen, who has done extensive research on Civil War soldiers, will share some of his findings about the 19 selected soldiers, including their family histories, their service contributions and the sacrifices during the war.Nihen said that the tours, in addition to being both an educational event and a fundraiser, will serve as a reminder that the cemetery is still "alive and well.""Before the association took over the care of the cemetery, it was bankrupt and practically abandoned," he said. "That is not true anymore and we'd like people to see the improvements made and the care put into the Grand Army."It's really a nice place to spend eternity. There have been tours in the past and we felt this is the time to revive them."For more information on the tour and to purchase tickets, contact Nihen at 570-645-5307.