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Archiver > NYERIE > 2002-06 > 1023927092


From: Zona I Himmelsbach <>
Subject: [NYERIE] Californians didn't get our historic cemetery commission
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 17:11:32 -0700


The following letter was not written by me. Zona
____________________________________________________________
Greetings

Some of you may recall that Assemblymember Anthony Pescetti authored
proposed legislation (AB 1779; 2000 and AB 1368; 2001) that would have
created the California Historic Cemetery Commission to work toward
identifying our state's early cemeteries and reviewing the problems that
plague them.

Thanks to Governor Gray Davis, we didn't get our historic cemetery
commission because the Governor vetoed the bill even though it passed
both the state senate and assembly nearly unanimously.

Had the governor not vetoed the bill, perhaps our state would be able to
put together a pivotal program as Oregon has done (see at
http://www.shpo.state.or.us/news.php?id=371 or below).

It is incomprehensible to me as a Californian, that our great state could
be outdone by Oregon, a state of great natural resources but not
necessarily of the financial wealth California has generally enjoyed.

If you still believe the State of California has an obligation to help
protect, preserve and conserve our state's historic cemeteries, I would
invite you all to send that message to Gray Davis.
mailto: . Ask him: How is it Oregon can afford
to attend to the needs of its' historic cemeteries while California
ignores them at every step? Why did you really vetoe AB 1779 in 2000?
(It's a receiving mailbox, but maybe if enough of us send him the
message, the next time this matter comes up, it will be enacted.) You
might wish to copy your own state representatives to let them know how
you feel.

If you live in a county where they are allowing your historic cemeteries
to be bulldozed or neglected off the face of this earth, you might want
to check the new California Saving Graves website at
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/state/ . I am the El Dorado County
Coordinator for California Saving Graves and have posted some background
on California's laws, one of which VESTED TITLE TO THE PUBLIC CEMETERIES
IN THE PEOPLE and, through the people, the board of supervisors of the
counties are the authority for their management and control. If no one
is minding the store when it comes to your county's historic cemeteries,
you might wish to review some of the law. The El Dorado County site is
linked to the California Saving Graves site or you may see it direct at
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/county/eldorado/ .

Every cemetery lost in this state may represent a break in information of
family histories yet to be discovered. Every cemetery lost in this state
represents yet another stitch dropping out of the moral fabric of our
society. We need to get together now and work together to stop the
decay, neglect, desecration and obliteration of our state's historic
burying grounds.

Sincerely,

Sue Silver
El Dorado County, CA

(The press release below is found on the Oregon State Historic
Preservation Office website. It is a state cemetery association created
by the Oregon state legislature. This is similar to what we could have
had, had Gray Davis not vetoed Mr. Pescetti's bill in 2000.)

Survey of historic cemeteries launched
Survey attached to this release
April 25th, 2002

Contact Name: Mirra Meyer, 503-378-4168, ext. 335
Contact Email:


#02-29 For immediate release:

The Oregon Pioneer Cemetery Commission launched its spring survey of
historic cemeteries today, continuing efforts to build a registry and
acquire up-to-date information on the condition of historic burial sites
throughout the state.

Commission Coordinator Mirra Meyer said the survey will provide
"essential information" needed to develop a cemetery preservation grants
program. "We're asking individual volunteers, school groups and service
and special interest organizations to help us gather information on the
conditions of historic cemeteries and gravesites of people who died
before February 14, 1909," said Meyer. "We're hoping they will fill out
the questionnaires as they prepare cemeteries for Memorial Day
observances and make annual visits to family plots."

June 10 is the deadline for returning questionnaires that will provide
data for this year's inventory. She stressed, however, that the
commission welcomes survey information at any time.

Survey forms can be downloaded (Acrobat required) or acquired by
e-mailing Meyer at . The questionnaires also can
be acquired through regular mail by writing to Meyer at SHPO, 1115
Commercial Street NE, Suite 2, Salem, OR 97301-1012.



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