If you were to ask the question, "What are cemeteris for?," you probably wouldn't answer it with the title of this article. Most people would probably say that it's the final resting place for the "dearly departed." From a technical standpoint, that's true. Cemeteries are places where we bury or intern those who have passed away. But if that's all they are, then why are so many cemeteries so beautiful? Why are the grounds kept neat and clean? Why do we build such elaborate monuments and mausoleums? Why do we put flowers on graves.? The only answer that I can come up with is that cemeteries are for the living just as much as they are for the dead.

Over my lifetime I've been to dozens of cemeteries, both here and abroad. Each one had it's unique beauty and elegance. Each one demonstrated to me that there were people who cared enough about their departed loved ones to take the time to decorate the graves with marvelous headstones, wrought iron boarders, wood accents and assorted plants and flowers. Some cemeteries have stood for centuries while others have been lost or forgotten. Regardless of this fact, each cemetery deserves respect. There are people buried in the most inconspisuous places who while living, have changed the course of this world.

Take for instance Charles Lindbergh, the aviation pioneer. his grave is located in a century old Congregational Church cemetery on the island of Maui. The cemetery is small, the church is somewhat abandoned and in need of repair and it's difficult to get to even by car. Many of the headstones have been wiped clean by constant exposure to the salt air. Nevertheless it's beautiful and well kept. At this time your probably asking yourself. "What's the point?" Well, it's simple. The cemetery is cared for not because Charles Linbergh is buried there. It's cared for because there are people who care. they care about their departed loved ones. They care about history. They realize that because of the people who are buried in the cemetery, they have things like freedom, which is tragically taken for granted today in America. Walk through any cemetery in the United States and I'll bet that there is at least one veteran who has fought for the freedom that I have and you have. That is why history is important to me and that's why I would like to preserve it.

Unfortunately there are those who don't seem to think the same way. they take history for granted and would rather forget the past than learn from it. A classic demonstration of this fact occurred at the Rhyolite Cemetery in Nye County, Nevada sometime in mid November. An indiividual or group of individuals invaded the cemetery and desecrated dozens of graves by destroying monuments, some of which cannot be replaced or repaired. Pieces of wooden head and footstones were strewn all over the cemetery boundaries. Wooden and iron grave fences were wrecked and destroyed. The worse damage was not necessarily to the cemetery, but to the memory of those people who are buried within it's boundries and their decendents. It was the descendents of those people in the Rhyolite Cemetery who took their time, energy and money to erect monuments that would stand the test of time. Not for someone to destroy them 90 years later but for people to enjoy 90 years later. this total disregard for our history, demonstrates the state of our society and what it deems important. I've heard over and over that those who choose to forget, deny or destroy history are bound to repeat the worst parts of it. And it's tragic to see the truth played out in my own backyard.

Somewhere, there possibly exists a plot map of the cemetery. It would give us a better idea of where people are buried, assist us in restoring the cemetery and also help descendents locate their ancestors. There is no question that we need the help of the public to find records, photos and even personal diaries and journals to help us. If you or anyone you know has this information, please help us restore part of our history in Rhyolite. Because you see, not only is it our history but yours too. thanks for listening. By the way, cemeteries are for the living. - Pastor Jeff