January 11, 2023

Episode 117 - Say What? A Cemetery Q & A Part 1

48 minutes

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Jennie and Dianne kick off 2023 by answering many questions posed by their listeners over the course of the previous year. They begin this two-part episode by covering the legal definition of an abandoned cemetery and how this definition determines either the survival or removal of a burial ground. They delve in to what to do should you accidentally excavate a burial site, especially if that site belongs to Native Americans. And finally, they cover the topic of cemetery grants including those provided by the Veterans Association (VA) to ensure that US military veterans receive a respectful burial.

Resources used to research this episode include:

National Legislation , Friends Committee On . "Reclaiming Identity: The Repatriation of Native Remains and Culture ." https://www.fcnl.org. 29 Sep. 2015. www.fcnl.org/updates/2016-09/reclaiming-identity-repatriation-native-remains-and-culture#:~:text=The%20grave%20protection%20section%20of,to%20immediately%20contact%20federal%20authorities. Accessed 9 Jan. 2023.

"Section 31-25-708 - Abandoned burial sites - right to reclaim." https://casetext.com. 8 Nov. 2022. casetext.com/statute/colorado-revised-statutes/title-31-government-municipal/powers-and-functions-of-cities-and-towns/article-25-public-improvements/part-7-cemeteries/section-31-25-708-abandoned-burial-sites-right-to-reclaim. Accessed 9 Jan. 2023.

"TITLE XXVI CEMETERIES; BURIALS; DEAD BODIES." https://www.nhcemetery.org. 7 Aug. 1993. www.nhcemetery.org/nh-state-law. Accessed 9 Jan. 2023.

"Abandoned Cemeteries ." https://www.mdah.ms.gov. www.mdah.ms.gov/historic-preservation/archaeology/abandoned-cemeteries. Accessed 9 Jan. 2023.

Law Students, Washington College Of. "STATE BURIAL LAWS PROJECT ." https://www.wcl.american.edu. www.wcl.american.edu/burial/. Accessed 9 Jan. 2023.

Administration , National Cemetery . "Veterans Cemetery Grants Program ." https://www.cem.va.gov. www.cem.va.gov/grants/. Accessed 9 Jan. 2023.

Wasley, Paula. "Press Release NEH Announces $28.1 Million for 204 Humanities Projects Nationwide ." https://www.neh.gov. 10 Jan. 2023. www.neh.gov/news/neh-announces-281-million-204-humanities-projects-nationwide. Accessed 11 Jan. 2023.