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Archiver > CEMETERY > 2002-08 > 1030774800


From: Morgan Robertson <>
Subject: Re: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Flags removed from cemetery
Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 03:17:57 -0400
References: <NFBBIKBMEGLJIEFJAPOLKEJIEKAA.pvc@vancamp.org>


I'd like to toss out a comment or two on the situation.

While I may disagree with the church's new rules, I think in the long
run it may very well be for the best for everyone involved. Here's why
--

The metal flags and grave markers can and *are* being stolen more and
more often. A couple of years ago I was involved with several other
genealogists who found that Civil War, Revolutionary markers, DAR, SAR,
GAR and other markers were being actively sold on Ebay. The auction site
only stopped doing that _because_ of the howling protests we drowned
them with, and the threats of lawsuits. Of course, the sellers
supposedly *didn't* know where the merchandise had come from. And
believe me, it tooks *months* of vigilance to finally get the message to
the auction site that these items were not *works of art*, but sacred
items honoring our ancestors. The sad part is this -- Ebay is just one
site. There is a growing market for *funerary* items, and those markers
are *top shelf*.

I personally think that rather than throw a fit because rules are
changed - for whatever reason - the people who want the markers on the
graves should try to abide by the new rules, as well as keep an eye on
markers that are left on a grave year round. Just *because* of the
ghoulish collectors out there. I'd personally be much happier knowing
that the cemetery caretakers are marking and keeping track of which
marker goes where - rather than having to deal with the shock of finding
it gone completely, into someone's collection.

For the record -- my grandfather's brass graveplate cover, which noted
that he had been in *both* World Wars,
was stolen - probably by some sick collector. I personally hope a bolt
of lightning brings a big tree down on the SOB who took it....

Morgan

Phil Van Camp wrote:
>
> What it is probably coming to is that the workers in the cemetery now have
> unions & receive more than a poverty wage. So the cemetery has to use one
> guy driving a big mower instead of five guys with little mowers & five more
> guys trimming by hand around the flags. Also, what happens to "permanent"
> flags when they get tattered & weather beaten. & before you castigate the
> church that accepted responsibility for caring for the cemetery in the
> future, call or write the National Cemeteries & ask if you could leave a
> permanent flag by a vet's grave.
> Locally, Riverside National removes flowers, flags etc. once a week on
> posted days in each section. So whatever you leave there is gone in a week
> or less.
> Also, why is the church taking over responsibility for this cemetery ???
> Maybe the previous operators went broke because of poor management.
> Just suppose you owned a small cemetery on the acre behind your house.
> Could a stranger, not related to anyone buried there come in and compel you
> to maintain forever and work around some memorial they chose to leave there?
> Gimme a break !
>
> Phil
> .
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [mailto:]
> Sent: Friday, August 30, 2002 7:58 AM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Flags removed from cemetery
>
> This has got to be one of the saddest and dumbest things I've ever seen.
> What is our world coming to?
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeanie" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Friday, August 30, 2002 10:34 AM
> Subject: [Old Bones CEMETERY-L] Flags removed from cemetery
>
> > This is from the UNION NEWS - SUNDAY REPUBLICAN at the following web
> > site. I believe they are in Western Massachusetts.
> >
> >
> http://www.masslive.com/hampfrank/unionnews/index.ssf?/news/pstories/w830fla
> i.html
> >
> > Hampshire/Franklin County News
> >
> > Flags removed from cemetery
> >
> > Friday, August 30, 2002
> > By GEORGE GRAHAM
> >
>
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