List, Below is an email I received today,that I think the entire list should read. Especially since a few on it were VERY quick to jump to conclusions---the wrong ones. It is my opinion that our old cemeteries are a treasure, however, there are proper ways to handle things--you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I hope we have learned to "stop and think" before we start making a lot of unnecessary phone calls, etc. Bev did nothing wrong by posting her concern to the list. She was asking for suggestions on how to handle a situation. It was the "call to arms" that got out of hand. Also, I hope we have learned a section of the "Code of Virginia" don't always pertain to every situation. That is why we have courts of law. If you read the Code sections posted to this list, with an open mind, you see there is nothing in them about private cemeteries--which are cemeteries NOT excepted out of a deed. As I read the section on "Access to Cemeteries" it, in many ways, protects the landowner. And after the "call to arms" on this list, I can see why. Put yourself in Mr. Finney's shoes---Here he is trying to preserve something and gets accused of trying to destroy it. How you would feel if it was done to you. Peggy C Fuller Keen, Organizing Regent Sandy Basin Chapter, NSDAR President Buchanan County Historical Society ----- Original Message ----- From: Susie Shrader Hey Friends, Attached is a picture of me taken this morning in the Hezekiah Whitt/Lowe Cemetery. Bob McGraw, representing the SAR and the SCV and me, representing the DAR, UDC, The Tazewell County Historical Society, and the C.A.R. Bob and I talked to Mr. Finney about this cemetery and folks, I 'm here to tell all of you all that this man deserves an apology from all of us. Phone calls to the Commonwealth Attorney, Sherriff's office, Commission of Revenue, and different organizations on behalf of you , all were made and some to the Newspaper office. Someone jumped the gun a little and now Mr. Finney is having to deal with this. In fact, he actually has improved the cemetery. The original fence is not in good shape and he has put a temporary fence of barbed wire around 3/4 of it. It can be walked though, but has those wild rambling rose thorns in it and they need to be cleaned out. I suggest all you realatives come together on some kind of agreement and arrangement ! and cut the wild growth and make a better fence. Mr. Finney told Bob McGraw and myself that he has no problem whatsoever with a clean up and new marker for Hezekiah Whitt (Revolutionary War) ordered and placed there with a nice ceremony with the descendants of H. Whitt and the interested organizations such as the DAR , SAR, SCV, UDC, C.A.R. and the Tazewell County Historical all involved. There is also a Confederate Veteran, James Lowe of the 8th Virgina, buried there with a nice Government marker that could stand a good cleaning and marked with the Southern Cross or whatever marker the SCV uses. Now, whichever, you Whitt/Lowe descendants would like to jump in and take charge of your 2 families involved here, the organizations that have been named will help and guide you all with this project. In the meantime, I am Sincerely Yours, Susie Shrader, Regent of the Fort Maiden Spring DAR President of the Tazewell County Historical Society member of UDC Chapter 173 Senior President of the C.A.R.\ Queen Mother of the Scarlett O'Hatters Red Hat Society This should tell you that I can laugh or cry.