The final resting place for some of Kennesaw's earliest settlers will swarm with activity Saturday.

The Kennesaw Cemetery Preservation Commission will sponsor its annual Decoration Day/Homecoming event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kennesaw City Cemetery.

Karen Rosen/AJC (ENLARGE)

On Saturday, volunteers will spruce up the Historic Kennesaw Cemetery.

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Volunteers will spruce up the gravesites to the accompaniment of gospel music provided by the Cokers Southern Gospel Group of Cartersville, Embraced, and soloist Gordon Shoaf.

The commission will supply free hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks at lunchtime.

"It's a fellowship opportunity," said Debra Taylor, Kennesaw city clerk. "People can sing and clean and take pride in this city hallmark."

More than 100 people attended last year.

Taylor said the event encourages people to visit their relatives' plots and change the rocks or put out some fresh or dried flowers.

Decoration Day also attracts total strangers.

"We've had people from Acworth with absolutely no kin," she said. "They wanted to come out and listen to some music, pick a few weeds and polish a headstone."

The older headstones, which date back to the 1860s, must be cleaned with special materials that won't damage them.

Taylor said cemetery commission members will help people identify friends or relatives resting in peace in the historic cemetery.

"Maybe some people will think, 'I never knew the cemetery is there. My family would like to be interred here,'" Taylor said.

Yes, there's room for new plots.

"We have areas that we can sell," Taylor said.

New residents can rest assured their plots will be well taken care of.