Jess & Cousins! Your alert and call for action is admirable, timely and appropriate. This is another application in gov't of 'political correctness', designed so that nobody gets their precious feelings hurt, adds further gov't control over our lives rather than invoke common sense, a rare commodity these days. In Texas there are COUNTY cemeteries... land owned by counties, lots sold, etc. Recently a conflict erupted btw a sheriff (a Rep.) who wished to use inmates already in the cemetery maintaining roads, unsold areas, etc., to straighten stones, etc. The county judge (sort of like the mayor of the county) (a Dem.) says, "NO, once those lots are sold they become pvt. property and you can't use county labor to maintain pvt. property regardless of how old." The Irving GenSoc has taken this on as a project. There is specific TX statute that addresses this and a positive interpretation was obtained from the AG. A few years ago under then Gov. Bush, becasue distances are so great, the State Land Commissioner (USMC, ret.) proposed to establish State Veteran Cemeteries and such was established. In TX, county gov't is part of state gov't. So, w/ this above little tempest, the Commissioner has said, "Since these county cemeteries are actually land owned by the state, why not set aside a portion of those that wish to establish 'County Vet. Cemeteries' to provide a free burial site for vets who do not wish to travel the distances to other vet. cemeteries.' The promulgation of this idea has been added to our project. Since this would be at the discretion of each county and its Commissioner's Ct. (The county's city council), we are not even sure enabling legislation is needed and are waiting on a ruling from the AG. What I am taking too long to say is that political action is often necessary, not that difficult, can be fun and very informative, and getting non-controversial legislation thru is not that difficult, even w/ a bunch as nutty and partisan as ours. If you don't already KNOW your state leg. &/or senator, you should be ashamed of yourself as you are already behind the power curve. Get out there and make your ideas known. Joe Sissom