 |
||
 |
AncestorNews: A Case of Neglect | |
 |
The Latest AncestorNews from Nancy Hendrickson | |
|
More Computer-Related Genealogy Advice | |
| . |  |
|
 |
||||
| Ethnic Toolkits Web Exclusive Forms Bookstore Soundex Code Generator Resources Writing Workshops Newsletter |
||||
Receive biweekly research tips and leads on new resources via email.
A Case of Neglect You might think I'm stuck on this cemetery preservation issue. At times, it feels like that to me too. But, a situation was recently brought to my attention that I want to share—and then I'll do my best to move on to other subjects.
A month ago, my mom and sister Vicki were in Washington, DC, and during their travels they repeatedly passed the entrance to an old cemetery. Although the sign in front said it was a National Cemetery, my sister thought it must be wrong because of the unkempt nature of the grounds. She called me from DC and asked me to get online and do a little research. Here's what I found.
On July 11 and 12, 1864, Confederate forces attacked the outskirts of Washington, DC, near Fort Stevens. President Lincoln actually came under fire as he watched the battle from the fort's ramparts.
The soldiers who died in this battle were buried at what's now Battleground National Cemetery, a half-mile north of the fort. Just an acre in size, Battleground is one of the smallest national cemeteries in the country.
Because of its National Cemetery status, and being under the auspices of the National Park Service, one would think this cemetery would be as well-kept as every other national cemetery I've seen (for example, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, which you can see here). However, as you can see from the photos my sister took, Battleground is filled with weeds, the paint on the flag pole is badly peeling and according to Vicki, trash is heaped up against one side of the grounds.
Does anyone know the laws governing national cemeteries?
With all the publicity given to Arlington National Cemetery, do you think the folks in DC just don't have the interest, willingness or time to keep up this one acre of graves? I've e-mailed the US Department of the Interior (the agency that oversees the National Park Service) and notified a reporter at the Washington Post, who just wrote an article on a historic African-American cemetery that's been lost to time.
• Saving Graves
• South Carolina, a Preservation Handbook (good for all states)
• Texas Guidelines on Preserving Historic Cemetery
• Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Cemeteries (takes time to load) Nancy Hendrickson is a contributing editor for Family Tree Magazine. She also is a family historian, freelance writer
and the author of two astronomy books. Her Web site
is at www.ancestornews.com. E-mail her at stjoemo@pobox.com.
by Nancy Hendrickson
www.savinggraves.org
www.state.sc.us/scdah/hstcm.pdf
www.thc.state.tx.us/publications/guidelines/Preservecem.pdf
www.cr.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb41
Article Search | Current Issue | Bookstore | About Us | Contact Us |