The Grave of Mother Jones

A quick, surprise stop along the way during a recent trip: Mount Olive, Illinois, site of the grave and memorial to Mother Jones (Mary Harris Jones).


It's at the edge of a cemetery full of graves with Eastern European names, mostly miners.


The monument is to her as well as "her boys," union miners who died in a gun battle with thugs hired by the mine owners.


Mother Jones surrounded by her boys. She didn't die in Illinois, but had requested to buried with the miners.


Union members leave their cards behind at the site.


And a bulletin board holds union information and stickers from various locals.


On the back of the bulletin board, this bit of truth: "right to work" means right work for less.