Last week, I had occasion to sit with my sister one afternoon in an old Philadelphia cemetery. In spite of being several centuries old, it was well maintained and still very much a part of the community. Youngsters were playing in an adjacent school yard and walked home through the cemetery as their parents came to retrieve them.
I remarked to Stacy how exceptional that was these days -- that while cemeteries used to be "living" places in the sense that we used to stroll through them, hold ceremonies of remembrance, and even picnic in them, this no longer seemed to be the case. I wistfully pined for the days when cemeteries were more integrated into the lives of the still-living.
Well, it turns out I may have reason for hope. After hearing, reading about, and dealing with so many cemeteries that are being neglected, destroyed for development, or otherwise threatened, how refreshing it is to read this pair of articles from the New York Times! I'm full of admiration for all involved and cautiously optimistic!
Cemeteries Seek Breathing Clientele
Rows of New Markers, and Untold Sacrifice by Civil War Soldiers
P.S. You'll want to be sure to check out the multimedia associated with the articles -- a slide show in one case and a video in the other.