Maxine, While I agree with you wholeheartedly about the disrespect shown for the deceased, I am afraid to say that this situation exists over most of the rural areas. There are no people left in the community that have family at these old cemeteries and the people living near or in the communities do not feel a responsibility to take care of the old cemeteries. There is also no money to pay for their upkeep and this day and age no one is going to go and take care of the cemetery unless they are paid to do so. This is happening in Nebraska, Kansas, and other states as well as Missouri. In fact, if the cemeteries are in the middle of a farmer's field and few stones left--the cemetery is just farmed over--as sad as that is to say. This is really no different than the situation in Germany. In many places in Germany, the plots are only leased for 50 years and then the next person is buried there--stones are removed and discarded and no one even knows the person was buried there. I have felt for quite some time now that a national bill should be sponsored to provide funding for such cemetery maintenance projects or at least that matching grants would be granted to communities or organizations that can be put in an investment account of some type and people paid to take care of the cemeteries. Something does need to be done, but I am not sure how one should go about initiating such a plan. Maybe if this group would involve other counties and states through USGenWeb and right to representatives and senators a bill could be drafted that would provide funds to cover these expenses or at least provide assistance to groups that are interested in raising funds for cemetery maintenance across the country. I hope maybe this e-mail can generate interest and a group of us can try to do something that will help provide a solution rather than just a place to vent our frustrations. Sharlene Miller