Malique (anonymous) says...

My dead relatives and friends are very lonely in the cemetery. Please do more activities like this so they get lots of visitors!

October 14, 2011 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hogan77 (anonymous) says...

So I suppose just because one person thinks it is sacred and hallowed, now I won't be allowed to go in for my genealogy research and take photos of MY family's headstones.

It isn't all about one person here. I actually LIKE learning about other people who are buried in the cemetery... you would be surprised the things one can find out about those who have long since passed on.

October 14, 2011 at 3:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Malique (anonymous) says...

I agree, hogan77. Sounds like Ol' Lester is being just being selfish and possibly a little naive.

Why are cemeteries considered "sacred"? Unless the deceased used to worked there, the cemetery has no real significance to them. "Hallowed ground"? That sounds like a bunch of superstitious hogwash. To me, a cemetery is no more sacred than a public park or library. This is what religion (superstitious beliefs) does to people; it makes 'em talk all crazy and it ruins the fun for the rest of us.

I can't wait to play hide and seek behind the headstones again! It's very hard to find people especially at night! Happy Boo-day to you, Lester!

October 14, 2011 at 3:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Malique (anonymous) says...

Interesting fact: Both of these chaps are over 65 and live outside of town. They are out of touch with reality and still stuck on their archaic values. Don't listen to them. There is nothing wrong with this idea. Let us have our fun; it's not hurting anything.

October 14, 2011 at 3:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

No one is in those graves, just bones...or almost bones. If there is a soul, it certainly isn't sitting underground. Cemeteries are for the living, not for the dead. The soul has long departed if that's what you want to believe. If you don't believe, then nothing is in those graves, just bones.

October 14, 2011 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sail (anonymous) says...

So am I to conclude that since my belief system is not the same as yours mal, then my beliefs have no value for respect,,,,..

October 14, 2011 at 5:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Malique (anonymous) says...

Keep your beliefs to yourself, sail! If you want privacy for your deceased relative's bones, you best burry them on private property that isn't open to the public! Your beliefs should not interfere with the general public. When you start telling people they can't go on property that is open to the public because you believe it will offend the ghosts or something, then your beliefs are now infringing on my freedom. This is why churches used to have their own cemeteries; so the churchy folks didn't intrude on the rest of us with their superstitious beliefs. Now that we live in the state of Brownbackistan, the churchy folks have gotten brave and are trying to stomp-out the freedoms of the folks who don't believe in Jesus fairytales.

As far as I know, these cemeteries are open to people of all faiths/beliefs. If you can't play nice and share it with others, you shouldn't use that cemetery. Period. Deal with it. Move on.

Your position prevents me from going to the cemetery at night to have some educational fun. What does my position prevent you from doing? Nothing, that's what! Boom! I win! Ch-yeah! Too much coffeeee!

October 14, 2011 at 5:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sail (anonymous) says...

OK ..... try decaf or herb tea, you seem uptight, as for me I use Johnny W. to unwind.....ohh its fri night , got to go....unwind now.

October 14, 2011 at 5:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

sail,

best not get into belief arguments with HenryVIII, I mean Malique. They are just too sharp for us.

October 14, 2011 at 8:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Ahhhh Yes, HenryVIII, it would seem the the current Henry VIII or Malique or whoever they may be, has no more common courtesy or respect for people , whether they be living or deceased, just like his origional Henry the VIII !

First of all, Malique or Henry VII or whoever you are, technically when you purchase your burial plot, you own that plot, you are not renting it, therefore technically you or your family' s burial plots are " Private Property " !

And this is not about " sanctity or beliefs ", this is about common courtesy and respect . Of which you apparently posses or know anything about either .

AAJMO

October 14, 2011 at 9:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Malique (anonymous) says...

You're right. Sorry. I guess we should let the deceased tell us what to do.
Love,
Henry VII...er...I mean Malique..yeah that's it...

October 15, 2011 at 2:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

Isn't Maplewood, Memorial Lawn cemetery owned by Charter Funeral Home Corperation?

If so, maybe complaints should be forwarded to their corporate offices?

October 15, 2011 at 7:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

netloafer (anonymous) says...

My wife and I are planning on donating our bodies to medical science, so we don't have a personal stake. But, I think the families that purchased burial plots for the loved ones should have some say. I don't what the answers to the questions are, but there are a few. If they have purchased plots are the plots considered private property? If the plots are private property did the purchase include a provision for the cemetery to allow for groups to use the cemetery/plots for fundraisers or other activities? If not, do the plot owners have the legal right to say they don't want the public?

I doubt Mr. Kusmaul's letter will change anything. The event is planned at that's that.

I suppose it's easy to criticize Mr. Kusmaul. Cemeteries are full of corpses who are past the point of complaining. His critics believe this is much ado about nothing. But I think cemeteries are more for the living than the dead. I don't frequent cemeteries and am hard presssed to see them as sacred. However, for some people visiting a gravesite is very meaningful. So, who am I to judge. For someone to say that since a graveyard has no meaning for them it therefore has no meaning at all makes no sense.

October 15, 2011 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...

netloafer,

Have a back up for the donation plan.

More medical schools are foregoing body donations and are going virtual study. My stepfather donated to K.U. med center but at the time of his death, the cause of death, (a certain cancer), precluded them from accepting.

There are a lot of differing opinions on this, I just wish the people planning this would have considered every ones reactions to it a little more.

Now it's time to join the living. biscuits and gravy at the senior center, then the parade downtown. Have a good one !

October 15, 2011 at 9:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

Malique/enry or whoever you may be today or tomorrow or when ever.

You apparently do not believe that your loved ones still speak to you, even though they have " passed on " !

Well I believe that my long Mother and Father, who have been gone these many years, still speak to me, through their words of wisdom, learning and their words that taught me so much while they were still among the living, especially their words of " Courtesy and Respect " of others, living or dead, especially when that courtesy or respect is " due, earned or deserved " !

God bless you Mom, Dad . My love, rememberance, courtesy and respect for you will never die and I will always hear/remember your words as though you are still talking to me in person, now/today .

October 15, 2011 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

netloafer (anonymous) says...

Steve

Thanks. I wasn't aware of virtual studies.

I guess cremation would be in order.

October 15, 2011 at 10:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hogan77 (anonymous) says...

I guess my question is- what is being done with the money raised? Is it given back to the cemetery, or is it supporting the Rec Commission and /or Historical Society? If its for the cemetery, I really don't see an issue with it. If its for the others, perhaps they should have picked somewhere else.
I hear Peter Pan Park is pretty creepy at night. Of course, in that situation, people may not come back alive at the end...

October 15, 2011 at 2:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

booker5m (anonymous) says...

I have oftern wonder if old henry and the reddog are one and the same?

October 16, 2011 at 9:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Richie (anonymous) says...

I understand Mr. Kusmaul's point of view and agree; graveyards are sacred places. However, I look at this event from a more promising point of view.

Growing up in Emporia, I lived within walking distance to Maplewood Cemetery. Perhaps I'm an oddity, but I enjoyed walking through the graveyard (sometimes en route from school to home), reading the tombstones. I love history, so it only made sense I wanted to learn more about those who were here before me but also to learn how they shaped the Emporia community. And, I never disrespected the graves. Sadly, there are too many who forget to think about our history and appreciate those before us in time.

So, to learn about this adventure into the graveyard, I think it is a positive. Certainly the facilitators will discuss respect for the graves in the process. I would hope, those who participate will learn more about the community, and get a sense of respect for those former Emporians who lie there in eternal sleep.

October 16, 2011 at 7:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Richie (anonymous) says...

On a sidenote, I would encourage readers of this blog to visit the cemetery. It is beautiful and serene, especially the closer you get to the top of the "hill." As you pass by the graves of the Families Plumb, White, etc., you finally reach the top to find a very nice (I hope it's been cleaned up) memorial to fallen warriors (WWI, I think). We can learn a lot from cemeteries, and from those who lie there in eternal sleep.

Here's a link you might enjoy:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ksf...

October 16, 2011 at 7:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )