In a message dated 10/3/01 9:50:52 AM US Eastern Standard Time, jtrump@ccrtc.com writes: > Thank you (!) to Ernie and Kyle for the advice. I had no idea what I > did was actually illegal, I was just concerned that I might have damaged the > gravesite somehow. If you can find someone that is experienced at cleaning and stone probing and repair, and you go to your Township Trustee with this information, you may ask him for a Letter authorizing you to clean and restore. He is Legally responsible for most cemeteries. Check and see if this one falls under his responsibility. To qualify as a "Pioneer" cemetery it technically must have been in existence in 1850 or before. But this is not always true. I have two cemeteries in Floyd County that have Pioneers that got their Land from the Government in the early 1800s and lived into their late 90s. They were born around 1795-6 and lived well into the 1800s thereby being true "Pioneers" With properly trained Help you should get a letter of permission from the Trustee. As we all know Trustees do not do the actual Repairs. They have others do the work. As a trained Volunteer you should be very welcome. The reason for the Letter is regular maintenance does not cover Stone Probing, or Epoxy Repairs. But if you, or your help is Trained, he can give you a Letter authorizing the work and you, under his direction are not breaking the Law, this comes under his Job description, according to the Law. If you are told different, please contact me Immediately. The DNR does not give out this advice I have letters authorizing the Cleaning, Probing, and Repairs for the Townships in Floyd County. I won't work on them any other Way. You will find there is "Double Standards." In effect, but If you go this way, you are under the "Legal Standard" Please, first do your leg work and make sure the cemetery comes under the Trustee. Jack E. Briles Sr. Floyd County PCRP Coordinator Po Box 444 New Albany, In. 47151-0444 (812) 282-6585 Fax (812) 282-6585