Thanks for your input Dana, So many of us jump to conclusions without enough knowledge on a subject to do so. I agree that there are serious grave vandalism and robbery going on, but I am sure that there are many instances of legitimate sales of headstones going on. I wish everyone would take a few moments to look into a subject before becoming outraged and sending it to every list on the net. Did anyone bother to write eBay and ask them about the origins of their grave markers, before becoming alarmed and starting a campaign to boycott eBay? That would be the fair and intelligent thing to do. Has eBay admitted to selling stolen grave markers? Have they been found guilty by the authorities of selling stolen grave markers? If I had replaced a relatives marker with a new one, for whatever the reason, I should be able to sell the old one without being accused of stealing or having poor taste or being despicable. If people are accusing eBay or others of wrong doing when perhaps none has occurred then the one in the wrong is the accuser. Let's all just try to think first and check things out before we cut someone with our tongue or pen (in this case our keyboards). My suggestion is that before you accuse and become appalled at the sell of such a headstone, that you find out where it had been obtained. If it turns out that someone is selling stolen gravestones, then by all means let them have it! But perhaps we should hold our tongue until we have such proof. Dana wrote: I don't want to play devil's advocate on this BUT I am aware that locally one can buy "used" grave markers that family members have "traded in" for newer ones. The reasons vary as I'm told by the local company but among them are: they are upgraded to a double when spouses die, or they can simply afford a better stone now than at the time of death, they are replaced by military markers. I know this because we have a very old cemetery here that we wanted old looking stones to mark an unmarked grave and the suggestion was made by a friend to get a "resurfaced" one. Until then I didn't know you could "trade in" for a different one. Please don't get me wrong, I find the vandalism disgraceful but wanted everyone to know that there may be legitimate sales of used stones going on. Just a thought, Dana ----- Original Message ----- From: <RWFields@aol.com> To: <THOMAS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 03, 1999 2:14 AM Subject: Grave Robbers > > This was forwarded to me from another list - and it is true - Grave > markers > > are actually being sold on eBay auctions - I have responded to eBay, as > well > > as the sellers of these items - I am outraged! > > > > Forward this to every genealogist and group on the net. Protest to > E-Bay. > > Report all > > participants to AOL, Earthlink, etc. > > > > >> Date: Sun, 2 May 1999 07:59:23 -0400 > > >> From: awetzel@juno.com > > >> To: CIVIL-WAR@rootsweb.com > > >> Message-ID: <19990502.075925.-1041609.2.awetzel@juno.com> > > >> Subject: Re: These Civil War Markers and .....are being sold. > > >> Content-Type: text/plain > > >> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > >> > > >> Thank you again, Carlene. Below is the information on the grave > markers > > >> you have alerted us about. Have sent an e-mail to eBay, and to each > > >> seller, reminding them that these items were once in place on > someone's > > >> grave, and that each state has laws forbidding vandalism to graves. I > > >> encourage all on this list to respond to eBay and/or to the sellers as > > >> you feel led. > > >> Annette Elam Wezel > > >> > > >> #95765135 is a GAR grave marker, marked "County Commissioners, West > > >> Chester, PA." The seller refers to its having been 'used.' The name of > > >> the seller is "1sterling," and the item is located in New Jersey. The > > >> seller's e-mail address is: sterlingcenter@world.att.net > > >> #95765620 is also a GAR grave marker, in a different style, marked > with > > >> the number "15" in the design of the front, with the back marked only > > >> "AMERICA," which may refer to the foundry. Again, the seller refers to > > >> 'signs of use.' Same location, same seller, same address. > > >> > > >> #96301772 is a Korean War veterans grave marker. The seller is located > in > > >> West Tennessee. The seller's e-mail address is: hbuild36@aol.com > > >> > > >> #98328212 is a "World War Veterans Marker." Possibly World War I, but > I > > >> am not sure of that. Located in Michigan. Sellers address is > > >> capcornr@klondyke.net > > >> > > >> #96742252 is World War II Veterans grave marker. Advertised as an > "eagle > > >> grave marker presented by the County Commissioners." Back marked > > >> "Philadelphia, PA," but that may again refer to a foundry. Located in > > >> Penndel, PA. Sellers address is tmaw@netcarrier.com > > >> > > >> On Sun, 2 May 1999 00:42:56 -0500 "Carlene M. Wojahn" > > >> <cwojahn@internetwis.com> writes: > > >> >Since it was pointed out to me about a month ago that grave markers > > >> >are sold on the ebay auction site., I sporadically check it out. > > >> >These auctions are now in process, and this greatly concerns me, for > > >> >doesn't this encourage theft of these markers ? Where did the person > > >> >selling these markers get them from ? > > >> >Carlene M. Wojahn > > >> >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=95765135 > > >> >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=95765620 > > >> >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=96301772 > > >> >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=98328212 > > >> >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=96742252 > > > > Jeff Wallick