TX-CEMETERIES-L Archives
Archiver > TX-CEMETERIES > 2008-04 > 1209603058
From:
Subject: Re: [TX-CEMETERIES] time to blitz City Manager Mike Morrison
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:50:58 EDT
Sarah,
I just now realized that a lot of trouble is going on at the New Braunfels
Cemetery. Do you mind filling me in? I think I accidentally deleted the
important facts of this story. We are also having trouble with a historic cemetery,
and the President who controls this cemetery, and I mean control. I hate for
you to rehash what is happening, but I would so appreciate this.
Most sincerely,
Deborah P. Franklin
In a message dated 4/30/2008 6:31:28 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
writes:
I just sent this out to Comal County, and to the Descendants on my mailing
list.
It occurred to me that there might be some readers on this list that
recognized the importance of the pioneers of New Braunfels to this great
State of Texas and would want to be involved in a mailing.
(You have my permission to forward it to anyone else or any other list)
***
The emails sent out by 2 dozen descendants had a huge impact on the City
Council. We didn't include the City Manager, so now is the time to do that.
According to the Zeitung:
"City Manager Mike Morrison said city staff will explore whether it would be
best to set up a municipal cemetery commission as part of the parks and
recreation department, or just encourage the formation of a "friends of the
cemetery" group, or both. "I anticipate that the parks board appoint a
committee," Morrison said. "They'll work through all the various options
that are out there and come back with a recommendation as to what structure
should be put in place."
I don't know who the staff is working on this, but we need to blitz the City
Manager to make sure he understands our position. We may not be residents
of New Braunfels, but those are our ancestors buried there.
#1. We need to let him know that a cemetery commission is critical to the
future of the cemeteries, and David Hartmann, chairman of the Historic
Landmarks Commission of New Braunfels, should be named head of the Cemetery
Commission. Mr. Hartmann is the staunchest supporter and most knowledgeable
person regarding the cemeteries that the City has. The nearby City of San
Marcos has a very successful cemetery commission that works in conjunction
with the Friends of the Cemetery, and Rodney Cobb, Parks Director, has
already said he would be happy to explain their organizations to the City of
New Braunfels.
#2. We need to suggest that Stacey Laird did not receive her letter from
Gerron S. Hite, Cemetery Preservation Coordinator for the Texas Historic
Commission. Her continued comments that plots are generally private property
and cities typically don't take on the responsibility of maintaining them
are incorrect. On April 4, 2008, Mr. Hite wrote a letter to the Mayor and
Stacey Laird stating that "Texas Health & Safety Code,Section 713.002 (a),
provides, 'A municipality that owns or operates a cemetery or has control of
cemetery property may act as a permanent trustee for the perpetual
maintenance of the lots and graves in the cemetery.' It appears that the law
was written to encourage preservation of all the elements of the cemetery
and provides the opportunity for the municipality to care for the lots and
graves within the cemetery, including the grave markers. The language is
permissive, not mandatory (may rather than shall) but would allow the city
to do what Ms. Reveley requests. The THC certainly encourages all parties to
explore avenues that will result in the preservation of all elements within
the cemetery, including individual grave markers."
#3. We need to encourage the formation of a Friends of the Cemeteries that
allows all of us to share freely of information that is available on both
cemeteries.
#4. Mention your connection to the cemeteries.
Thanks,
Sarah in San Antonio
We are the chosen
My feelings are in each family there is one who seems called to find the
ancestors
To put flesh on their bones and make them live again
To tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve
To me doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but instead
Breathing life into all who have gone before.
We are the storytellers of the tribe. All tribes have one
We have been called as it were by our genes
Those who have gone before cry out to us, Tell our story
So, we do
In finding them, we somehow find ourselves
How many graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count.
How many times have I told the ancestors
You have a wonderful family, you would be proud of us?
How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow
There was love there for me? I cannot say
It goes beyond just documenting facts
It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do?
It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and
indifference
And saying I can't let this happen.
The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh
It goes to doing something about it
It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish
How they contributed to what we are today
It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or
giving up
Their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.
It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation
It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us
That we might be born who we are
That we might remember them. So, we do
With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence
Because we are them and they are us.
So, as a scribe called. I tell the story of my family
It is up to that one called in the next generation
To answer the call and take their place in the long line of family
storytellers
And that is what calls those young and old to step up
And put flesh on the bones.
[Author Unknown]
-------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject
and the body of the message
**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car
listings at AOL Autos.
(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
This thread: