March 8, 2009
WV Groups initiate Efforts to Protect Family Cemeteries
Support encouraged for state legislation
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Charleston, WV (HNN) -- Standing in the midst of four generations of her family's tombstones, Carol Warren spoke of the layers of stories and life histories laid to rest around her.
"My ancestors are safe here," Warren said. "No one will bulldoze their headstones over the hill, or blast in this cemetery plot. The dead are entitled to rest in peace. Mother Jones said years ago we should pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living. She probably never suspected we would one day have to fight for the dead, too."
At Spring Hill Cemetery in Charleston today, environmental justice advocates, faith community members and affected citizens gathered to initiate a legislative campaign to protect rural family cemeteries from disturbance and destruction by mining, timbering and other industrial processing of the land.
Citizens who have experienced the loss of family burial sites were joined by members of the Huntington-based Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC), the West Virginia Council of Churches, and the West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, as they announced their plans to push for passage of House bills 2905 and 2928 during the 2009 Legislative Session.
When family members are buried in a public cemetery, they are protected from blasting, desecration, and being removed from their resting place in order for an industrial operation to take place on the site. Their descendants expect to be able to visit the gravesites and honor their loved ones.
But smaller, private family cemeteries aren't well protected, affected citizens told those gathered at Spring Hill. They spoke of the trauma of finding that their family cemeteries, in which their ancestors expected to lie at rest forever, have been moved by mining operations, or have simply "disappeared."
"My family cemetery started back in the late 1800s. We need freedom to mourn those loved ones in the peaceful surrounding that they chose to be laid to rest in," said Maria Gunnoe, from Boone County. "What would happen if anyone destroyed the mound in South Charleston? What kind of outrage would we see if they ask to move this mound?"
Walter Young from Mingo County discovered that his family cemetery had been moved only when he requested permission to visit it for Memorial Day. When he inquired where his family's remains had been taken, the coal company spokesman replied, "We don't know."
One piece of legislation the groups are advocating for would extend the buffer zone for surface mining around a cemetery from 100 feet to 300 feet, the same as for an occupied dwelling. The other would give citizens denied access to family cemeteries the option of Magistrate Court as a place to negotiate plans for gaining access. The measure would also lengthen the period for family to be notified before a cemetery can be moved or removed, and clarifies that the legal process must be followed any time human remains are disturbed.
OVEC organizer Robin Blakeman noted, "I worry about safety when going to my family cemetery in Boone County, since it is so close to the mining operations. And I worry about the priceless and irreplaceable heritage I'm losing at an incredibly rapid pace."
The faith community supports these efforts to maintain sacred spaces. " We should do everything in our power to protect hallowed ground that holds the remains of those who have gone before," said Very Rev. Brian O'Donnell, SJ, Executive Director of the Catholic Conference of West Virginia. "Cemeteries are holy places, enshrining in a special way the memories of our loved ones whose bodies wait therein. Our laws should recognize the importance of maintaining these places of such special significance to our communities."
The group has found support among members of the House of Delegates, where the legislation has been introduced. Lead sponsor Delegate Don Perdue observed, "This stands as an effort to make sure that hallowed ground in West Virginia does not become hollowed ground or Hell-owed ground."
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WV Groups initiate Efforts to Protect Family Cemeteries
Support encouraged for state legislation
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Charleston, WV (HNN) -- Standing in the midst of four generations of her family's tombstones, Carol Warren spoke of the layers of stories and life histories laid to rest around her.
"My ancestors are safe here," Warren said. "No one will bulldoze their headstones over the hill, or blast in this cemetery plot. The dead are entitled to rest in peace. Mother Jones said years ago we should pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living. She probably never suspected we would one day have to fight for the dead, too."
At Spring Hill Cemetery in Charleston today, environmental justice advocates, faith community members and affected citizens gathered to initiate a legislative campaign to protect rural family cemeteries from disturbance and destruction by mining, timbering and other industrial processing of the land.
Citizens who have experienced the loss of family burial sites were joined by members of the Huntington-based Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC), the West Virginia Council of Churches, and the West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, as they announced their plans to push for passage of House bills 2905 and 2928 during the 2009 Legislative Session.
When family members are buried in a public cemetery, they are protected from blasting, desecration, and being removed from their resting place in order for an industrial operation to take place on the site. Their descendants expect to be able to visit the gravesites and honor their loved ones.
But smaller, private family cemeteries aren't well protected, affected citizens told those gathered at Spring Hill. They spoke of the trauma of finding that their family cemeteries, in which their ancestors expected to lie at rest forever, have been moved by mining operations, or have simply "disappeared."
"My family cemetery started back in the late 1800s. We need freedom to mourn those loved ones in the peaceful surrounding that they chose to be laid to rest in," said Maria Gunnoe, from Boone County. "What would happen if anyone destroyed the mound in South Charleston? What kind of outrage would we see if they ask to move this mound?"
Walter Young from Mingo County discovered that his family cemetery had been moved only when he requested permission to visit it for Memorial Day. When he inquired where his family's remains had been taken, the coal company spokesman replied, "We don't know."
One piece of legislation the groups are advocating for would extend the buffer zone for surface mining around a cemetery from 100 feet to 300 feet, the same as for an occupied dwelling. The other would give citizens denied access to family cemeteries the option of Magistrate Court as a place to negotiate plans for gaining access. The measure would also lengthen the period for family to be notified before a cemetery can be moved or removed, and clarifies that the legal process must be followed any time human remains are disturbed.
OVEC organizer Robin Blakeman noted, "I worry about safety when going to my family cemetery in Boone County, since it is so close to the mining operations. And I worry about the priceless and irreplaceable heritage I'm losing at an incredibly rapid pace."
The faith community supports these efforts to maintain sacred spaces. " We should do everything in our power to protect hallowed ground that holds the remains of those who have gone before," said Very Rev. Brian O'Donnell, SJ, Executive Director of the Catholic Conference of West Virginia. "Cemeteries are holy places, enshrining in a special way the memories of our loved ones whose bodies wait therein. Our laws should recognize the importance of maintaining these places of such special significance to our communities."
The group has found support among members of the House of Delegates, where the legislation has been introduced. Lead sponsor Delegate Don Perdue observed, "This stands as an effort to make sure that hallowed ground in West Virginia does not become hollowed ground or Hell-owed ground."
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