This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------595A39882C57 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Dear List: I was so mortified by this that I am sending it for all to see. These could be our ancestors, God forbid, and we would want the world to know what is happening. How much longer are graves going to be descrated across America before the Powers that Be put a stop to it. There surely were people involved with the "pouring of cement for a parking lot" that could have stopped this before it went any further. Do we have any hope that the day will come when a person who has the power to say "NO" will do so? What right does anyone, regardless of who they may be, how much money they may have, who they may know, where they may come from, where they live, or what laws may prevail at the time or place, have to desecrate graves which are holy ground no matter where they lay? ALL graves should be respected and protected. Can you just imagine cement being poured over the graves in Arlington, what a horrible thought. Or maybe someone wants to put a parking lot over Grant's tomb or Robert E. Lee or Colin P. Kelley, or Abraham Lincoln, could they? No, of course not, but as much as we revere and respect those blessed people, do our families deserve any less protection from intruders and money grabbers, absolutely not. Think about this. Suppose a few years pass before you can go to another state to pay your respects to your ancestors, which happens with so many of us, and you arrive only to find a parking lot staring you in the face, or a convenience store, shopping mall, etc....or maybe someone just decided they liked the spot and wanted to build a home there.......IT HAS HAPPENED, the question now is when will it stop. Joan --------------595A39882C57 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Return-Path: <FLORIDA-L-request@rootsweb.com> Received: from lists5.rootsweb.com ([63.92.80.123]) by mtapop1.verizon.net (InterMail vM.4.01.03.00 201-229-121) with ESMTP id <20010612011246.JDL794290.mtapop1.verizon.net@lists5.rootsweb.com>; Mon, 11 Jun 2001 20:12:46 -0500 Received: (from slist@localhost) by lists5.rootsweb.com (8.10.1/8.10.1) id f5C1B1E26199; Mon, 11 Jun 2001 19:11:01 -0600 Resent-Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 19:11:01 -0600 X-Original-Sender: gnw@rose.net Mon Jun 11 18:11:00 2001 Message-ID: <031801c0f2dc$58001060$810312ac@rose.net> From: "Greg & Winnette" <gnw@rose.net> Old-To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:@mail.rose.net;> Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 21:09:34 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by lists5.rootsweb.com id f5C1B0B26166 Subject: [FLORIDA] Cemetery Resent-Message-ID: <l7oPGC.A.JZG.kwWJ7@lists5.rootsweb.com> To: FLORIDA-L@rootsweb.com Resent-From: FLORIDA-L@rootsweb.com X-Mailing-List: <FLORIDA-L@rootsweb.com> archive/latest/5829 X-Loop: FLORIDA-L@rootsweb.com Precedence: list Resent-Sender: FLORIDA-L-request@rootsweb.com Forwarding for your information....Winn To Whom It May Concern, We are writing this letter in response to the information we have received concerning the Sale of Tombs/Grave Sites at the St. Michael's Cemetery in St. Martinville, La, for back maintenance fees. The St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville, Louisiana, who own the cemetery, are acquiring the old ancestral plots to resell them, we assume for lack of space, and for past unpaid fees. The church has already paved over the original cemetery which housed the Original Acadian Ancestors that Immigrated here from Acadia! It is now a Parking Lot! We, as Guardians of our Ancestors Tombs and Genealogist, Historians, hope to put an end to this destruction. The remains, history and genealogy of these tombs desperately need to be need to be preserved for future generations to come. By sending this letter we hope to get your support in this effort. We need to join together to save our Acadian History. This effort is being named "Rest In Peace": St. Martinville Project Save. We hope to gather all the support from the Community, Descendants World Wide, All Societies: Historical, Military, Genealogical, Family Organizations and anyone with an interest in saving these old Tombs/Graves from desecration! We with "Rest In Peace" would appreciate your input and or backing in this effort. Spear heading our group are: Annette Eschete, Youngsville, LA Andre Courville, Breaux Bridge, LA And many other new volunteers world wide. If you are interested in lending moral support and agree with our premise, please contact us immediately as time is of the essence. This has been going on for at lease 5 years already. We will be setting up a web-site for all to sign a "Letter of Protest" of this destruction and "Eviction" of the deceased remains in this cemetery. Please Join us in helping to stop this blatant destruction of our past. Our Ancestors where evicted from Acadia in 1755 and found a loving home in Louisiana. Now their remains are being evicted! Will this ever stop! Please note*: That some of these graves that are tagged to be aquired and sold are marked with Civil War Placques and Veterans Placques. Any help you can lend will be appreciated by one and all in our group. If you have any ideas, contacts or groups interested in joining us please let us know as soon as possible. If you could post this letter at any of your meetings, or send to your members we would be grateful for your help. We can be e-mailed at: restinpeace@genealogysearch.org Also find the petition at www.geocities.com/restinpeace_stmartinville Thank you in advance for your help! Sincerely, "Rest In Peace" Annette Eschete Andre Courville ============================== Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 Source for Family History Online. Go to: http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB --------------595A39882C57--