Hi fellow researchers, I thought this was something to share with those who may be unaware of this. How many times those of us researching our ancestors, our countless days in cemeteries, and our endless quest for information have we wished those stones could tell us a story. Fran http://genealogy.about.com/b/a/080060.htm http://www.rockofages.com/memorials/medallion/index.php http://www.cornerstonegenealogy.com/Memory_Medallion.htm Rock of Ages Launches Memory Medallion: New High-Tech Product Tells the Human Story Behind the Names Engraved on Memorials 6 October 2005 Christopher Santora, 23, was passionate about sports and American history, and his dream was to become a firefighter, following in his father's footsteps. He graduated from Queens College and was known for his tremendous energy and enthusiasm. Christopher was one of the youngest firefighters to perish during the tragedies of 9/11. Christopher's parents buried him at St. Michael's Cemetery in Queens, NY, and, recognizing that there were no memorials in Queens for the fallen firefighters of 9/11, worked with the cemetery director to erect one. But it wasn't an easy process. Funds were limited and the Santora family couldn't afford to build the firefighter statue they were envisioning. They wanted to honor their son by telling his story, and were concerned that they wouldn't be able to memorialize him the way they had hoped. Then the cemetery director heard about Memory Medallion, a new product that enables loved ones to tell the human story behind the names and dates engraved at a person's final resting place or any place of honor utilizing today's technology. This would allow Christopher's parents to ensure that he was remembered as more than just a name on a grave marker. But, his parents decided not to just honor their son. They created a beautiful memorial that uses Memory Medallions to tell the story of all the fallen Queens firefighters. Al Santora, Christopher's father, said the Memory Medallion was a "phenomenal and personal way for their stories to be told." He added that the Memory Medallion "takes up very little space and is better than anything else we've seen. It requires no maintenance." Responding to a growing trend toward personalized memorialization, Rock of Ages, America's leading quarrier, manufacturer and distributor of high- quality, exquisitely designed memorials, introduced Memory Medallion today during the National Funeral Directors Association annual meeting in Chicago. Memory Medallion is a small stainless steel disc, about the size of a half-dollar that is embedded in a monument, memorial or grave marker. It uses Micro-Can technology -- the same technology in watch batteries -- and is impervious to weather, even sub-zero or desert temperatures. A recent survey commissioned by the National Funeral Directors Association found that 62 percent of those wanting a funeral service preferred some form of personalization. Industry experts attribute the growing trend in personalized memorialization to the demands of aging Baby Boomers, who are used to having things done on their own terms. "Today's trend in remembrance is to make it very personal, reflecting the unique aspects of the person being memorialized," said Rick Wrabel, president of Rock of Ages' Memorials Division. "Families want to honor their departed loved ones for the individuals they were. "Technology enables families to share the stories behind their loved ones. Visitors to a cemetery or monument can now actually read, see and even hear details about a family member or friend," Wrabel added. Memory Medallion was invented by Glenn Toothman, a former district attorney in Pennsylvania. The inspiration came from his father, who wanted to be remembered as more than just his birth and death years, which typically is what is listed on a memorial. The Memory Medallion works with a "touch wand" and most hand-held Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) or lap-top computers. It operates by simply opening the Medallion cover and touching the wand to the stainless steel disc. The wand acts as a connector between the software in the Medallion and within the PDA or lap-top computer in order to download an image and life story of the person being memorialized. Many medallions contain serial numbers, which can be used to download other information about the departed -- such as wedding photos and other memories -- from pre-arranged Web sites. "Rock of Ages is distributing the product to respond to the desires of those we serve," Wrabel explained. "Memory Medallion provides an opportunity to literally touch a life, which our families truly appreciate. The real value is beyond technology -- it's such a wonderful opportunity to preserve a memory in a dynamic and personal way." "Research we've conducted indicates very clearly that the most important thing to people is personalization, the ability to create something that is unique with the assistance of a trained professional," according to Caryn Crump, senior vice president of Rock of Ages' Memorial Division. "It's not a standard display of genealogical information, but a way that the spirit shines through," Memory Medallion Inventor Toothman said, adding that the product provides more than the dates someone lived; it offers a glimpse into what made them special. Memory Medallion is available exclusively from Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages' Memorial Division, which is headquartered in Graniteville, Vermont, is widely recognized for innovative designs and quality construction of memorials. The company has retail locations throughout the United States. Among the most recent notable memorials the company has created are the World War II Memorial Arches in Washington, DC and the Blue-Sky Mausoleum designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and located at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York.