Got this from a National Genealogy Society newsletter. Any one want to do a calendar for INPCRP? Oakwood Cemetery Fundraiser is All an Illusion Posing with a Civil War saber beside the grave of Gen. George Thomas, the only Union general in the Civil War never to lose a battle, retired Army Col. Charles Johnson, 72, appears to be wearing nothing but his Army boots, a World War II helmet and a Vietnam-era backpack. The photo of Johnson, vice president of the Oakwood Cemetery board of trustees, plus photographs of other "seemingly n*ked" board members and prominent residents of the community were used to create an inventive fundraiser. Founded in 1848, the Oakwood Cemetery covers more than 600 acres of protected land overlooking the city of Troy in upstate New York. It is one of the largest rural cemeteries in America and contains four man-made lakes, extensive lawns, two residential structures, two chapels, twenty-four mausoleums, and monuments and statuary for nearly 60,000 gravesites, with over half the gravesites filled in the 19th century. Although the historical value of the Oakwood Cemetery is tremendous, so are the maintenance bills. To help raise funds for repairs, the Oakwood Cemetery board of trustees decided to take a few risks and produce the "Cemetery Illusions Calendar 2005." Selling for $14.95 the calendar is carefully designed to create a dignified illusion of n*de models taking part in tea parties and other activities among the tombstones and cemetery structures. But it's all an illusion. "They look n*ked, but they were told to put on Speedo bathing suits," said Terry Page, president of the Oakwood Cemetery board of trustees. "That's why it's called 'Cemetery Illusions.' " To view a slide show and/or narrated video clip showing several scenes from the calendar and discussing its purpose, visit http://www.nbc10.com/news/3767302/detail.html "Cemetery Illusions Calendar 2005 is available on the Internet at http://www.oakwoodcemetery.org/calendar.htm To learn more about Oakwood Cemetery's history, the many things that can be learned by visiting it, and the need to protect and preserve it for all time, read "Listening to Oakwood" at http://members.aol.com/oakwoodcem/nielser.htm Contributed by Carla Ridenour, [email protected] Note: An * replaces specific letters in this article so that UpFront won't be nabbed by junk mail filters. Rhonda Stoffer Head of Indiana History and Genealogy Services Marion Public Library