Going Green

I have read about "green" cemeteries but haven't put much thought into the subject. Here is an interesting post about it from The Daily Undertaker.

My son has returned to Afghanistan so I hope to return to regular blogging again after I play catch-up on some other things.

The Boy in the Iron Coffin

William Taylor White - his body and iron coffin were lost for 150 years...

I read about this last year when it was published and would like to thank Tammi of Escape to the Silent Cities, for bringing it to my attention again. I told her that when I read it the first time I wanted to cry. I felt the same way in reading it again today. Here are a few links to read this incredible story.

Link 1

Link 2 with photo

Link 3

Link 4 with photo

Link 5 with photo

Link 6 with photos

This LINK has some amazing photos, including some from when William was found and his cenotaph.

There are countless other links out there on this amazing story.

THIS is why we do what we do. THIS is why we remember the dead. THIS is why we hunt for the lost. THIS is why we give the dead back their name. THIS is why we call them by name during our cemetery walks.

Face to Face Follow-up

My article, Face to Face, for the GYR online journal was published on 3/25. I recently discovered a wonderful article dated 1874 about the use of photos on tombstones. I found the article using Google Books. Go ahead, Google. You never know what you may find.

The Photographic News
A weekly record of the progress of photography
Vol XVIII London

Ching Ming: Tomb Sweeping Day

I subscribe to "The Daily Undertaker". I just read a interesting post on Ching Ming.

"It is almost upon us again... With spring comes Ching Ming; Grave Sweeping Day in the Chinese cultural tradition. Usually falling in early April, Ching Ming is a time when families gather, often very early in the morning, and travel to the graves of their ancestors to honor and remember them."

Visit the blog to read the rest of the article.

It made me think of how often we honor our ancestors. I know holidays are when most people visit the graves of family members. And maybe birthdays. I am 1,100 miles away from where my precious Mama is buried and it saddens me that I can't visit and take her flowers more often.