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Petition Tag - cemetery
1. Save the Chinese Market Gardens in La Perouse 
SAVE THE La PEROUSE (BOTANY) HERITAGE LISTED CHINESE MARKET GARDENS
Heritage for All
Background:
The neighbouring Botany Cemetery is preparing to take over the land on which market gardens have been established since the 1860s, first tilled by the Europeans then by the Chinese in the early 1900s. These gardens have been listed on the NSW State Heritage Register since 1999.
The NSW State Heritage Register states: “It is believed that this vegetable garden [ La Perouse’s] was Australia's first primary industry site and the site was more or less the same site as the Chinese Market Gardens. The first farms in the La Perouse area recorded in 1830 on land granted to John Brown. The Surveyor General's Map of 1889 identified market gardens in this area.
The La Perouse Chinese Market Gardens are of historical, agricultural and social significance to NSW and to the Sydney Metropolitan area in particular.
§ historical: the area is seen to have the importance in the evolution of the area from a landscape occupied and modified by the area’s Aboriginal population, to an area adapted to the settlement and food production needs of the European colony initially by the Europeans and then the Chinese;
§ social significance for its association with the Chinese immigrants who became predominant in the Market Gardens of this area for about 100 years. The current agricultural use somewhat extends the unique use by the original Aboriginal owners of the land, the Dharawal Community;
§ agricultural: these gardens are one of few remaining highly productive market gardens in the inner Sydney area producing and delivering fresh vegetables with minimal carbon footprint. The greening of this area with vegetables also reduces carbon pollution.
The needs of Botany Cemetery are important but the cemetery has many alternative solutions other than to demolishing the Heritage Chinese Market Gardens. NSW environmental and other legislation in effect protects these Heritage Market Garden areas.
2. Support The Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery Restoration Project
The Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery was founded in 1829 and was one of the very first Garden Style landscape cemeteries established, which revolutionized cemeteries across the nation. It was also the first cemetery company founded in the State of New Jersey. Founded by a group of prominent Jersey City & New York City leaders, the cemetery is home to many of our great city's founding fathers and historic legends.
Prior to the creation of the Cemetery in 1829, it's historical significance dates back to the 1700's as the site of Revolutionary War skirmishes, and an active Ammunition Bunker during the War of 1812 that still stands proudly on our grounds. Now the sacred eternal resting place of thousands of soldiers from the Revolutionary & Civil Wars, the War of 1812, the Spanish-American War, WWI and II, forward, as well as home to our earliest Jersey City founders, leaders, residents and legends. With its 200 year old English Ivy adorning many of the towering trees, and the monumental works of art, this 6-acre sanctuary of peace and unique history is one of the most beautiful natural settings in Jersey City.
Sadly neglected and abandoned in early 2008, the Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery is now being saved and preserved by the dedicated efforts of a newly formed volunteer Board of Trustees, a hard-working group of volunteers, and a supportive Community who are committed to the restoration of the historic cemetery grounds, caretaker house, and historic monuments.
With undivided loyalty, we will protect and preserve, with honor, our ancestors and veterans in memoriam, while promoting the early American historical events that took place on these sacred grounds.
3. Enfield Council must take Action
Enfield Council sold a piece of land in the middle of St James Cemetery Hertford Road, to Greater London Waste.
Yes you did read it correctly a WASTE DUMP IN THE MIDDLE OF A CEMETERY WHERE "DEPARTED LOVED ONES ARE LAID TO REST IN PEACE", AND JUST FEET AWAY FROM GRAVES; EIGHT WHEEL LORRIES PLY THEIR TRADE LEAVING DESTRUCTION ALL AROUND.
THEY USE WHAT IS NO MORE THAN A FOOT PATH TO ACCESS THE SITE, AND HAVE DAMAGED THE PATH WITH DEEP RUTS, HAVE DESTROYED GRASS VERGES, CAUSED NEW LAMP POSTS TO BECOME UNSTABLE, DAMAGED THE CORNER STONE OF CHURCH YARD AND LEAVE MUD AND RUBBLE STREWN ALL OVER.
4. Reinstatement of memorial stones at Welford Cemetery, Leicester
Leicester City Council, faced with the safety problem of memorial stones toppling over, solved it by tipping hundreds of them over onto their backs, despite protests from the Polish community.
There is no argument about the safety issue, but another solution could have been found, e.g. using industrial adhesives. As it stands the cemetery looks as though vandals have run amok there.
5. Change Arlington Cemetery Burial Honors (Enlisted vs. Officer)
Arlington National Cemetery Burial Honors (Enlisted vs. Officer)
The difference between a Full and Standard Honor Funeral is dramatic, however, unless you have worked at Arlington, you would never know the difference. In fact, the only way an Enlisted Service Member can receive a Full Honor Funeral is to be a Medal of Honor Recipient, which are usually awarded well after burial, meaning a Enlisted Medal of Honor Recipient wouldn’t receive Full Honors at time of burial.
Basically, a Full Honors at Arlington consists of a Horse Drawn Caisson transfer from Chapel to gravesite, 8 pallbearers, Army Band, 1-2 escort marching Platoons, Cannon Salutes for General Officers, “Cap Rider-less Horse(0-6 and above), firing party, bugler and a Chaplin. A Standard Honors Funeral consists of a hearse transfer, 6 pallbearers, firing party, bugler, and a Chaplin. Another misconception is that E-9’s receive Full Honors as stated in Army Regulation 600-25, however, they don’t, in addition to the Standard Honors rendered above, they get the Caisson, 1 escort marching platoon, and a drummer, which contradicts what Army Regulation 600-25 states they will receive the band.
I might add, the above Special Officer Honors rendered at Arlington, are not offered at any other National Cemetery in the United States. I feel Arlington Honors should mirror the rest of the National Cemeteries.
For the last year, I have addressed this with the President, multiple Congressman and Senators, multiple Veteran Organizations of which I am a member of, and Army Offices in Washington D.C., but have received little to no response back. The ANC Superintendent sent me a response stating that he agreed with my position, however, he believed changes would be difficult to implement. I have talked to numerous Senior Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers as well who support this and are addressing this in their own direction.
The bottom line is this, a 2nd Lieutenant can die in a car accident 2 days after graduating Officer Candidate School and get a Full Honor Funeral, while a Master Sergeant in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corp, or Navy with 22 years of Service can die in Combat in Afghanistan or Iraq, receive a Silver Star for Valor, and receive a Standard Honor Funeral. This is flat out disgraceful. In a place our Nation considers to be the most hallowed ground in America, a place that demands our respect, I think this issue deserves to be looked at. Honors rendered should be equal, based off actions, not just rank. A panel should decide official criteria for Honors rendered based off individual careers, and circumstances of death, not just by rank. I think the Funerals should be like the Tomb Stones in Arlington, all the same. At a minimum, all Active Duty Soldiers’ killed in Combat should receive a Full Honor Funeral.
Official criteria needs to be re-looked at is the bottom line, this disgraceful discrepancy has been passed over as “customs and courtesies” too long.
Anyone wishing to assist my efforts please sign this petition which I will be submitting to applicable parties in Washington D.C., so please forward this to all Veterans you know asap. The only way this will be changed is through legislation, so please contact your Representatives'.
SFC Robert Allen Durbin
Taji, Iraq
6. Stop the destruction of Tower Hamlets Cemetery
TOWER HAMLETS CEMETERY.
As some may be aware Tower Hamlets Council in London are planning to dig up 350,000 bodies in the historic London cemetery.
May 27, 2005
Abney Park Garden Cemetery is a 32-acre historic park and nature reserve in Hackney, north London - one of Britain's poorest inner-city boroughs. Over the years it has become dense woodland, and is a unique place of retreat from the pressures of urban life. It is a national as well as a local treasure.
It is the heart of a Conservation Area, and the Council has policies to protect it from noise and disturbance. It is on the point of violating those policies by approving a school which will create noise and disturbance within a few feet of one of the most sensitive areas - the quiet corner where, in the 18th century, Dr. Isaac Watts retired to write his famous hymns.
A local community association, which is sponsoring this petition, welcomes a school in principle, but wants its scale and design to respect the setting and comply with planning policies.
Your signature will go to Hackney's head planning officer.
Our website (see above) will give you a fuller picture of what is at stake.
Please support us in our efforts to restore and clean up Greenwood Cemetery in Fairview Heights, IL. There are over 1,500 people buried in Greenwood Cemetery, along with Veterans from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, and the Korean War.
By signing this petition you will be helping to preserve history and honor those that have been laid to rest.
9. Prevent the Second Destruction of Pilot Town
Pilot Town on Ft. Morgan Peninsula is a significant, historical site of archeological and environmental importance. From as early as 500 B.C. the site was inhabited by Native Americans, it was settled by Spaniards in the mid-1700's and was the site of a U.S. Navy Base during the War of 1812. The settlement of Bar Pilots in the early 1800's was destroyed during the deadly hurricane of September, 1906. It is the site of many shell mounds and we feel many unmarked graves of Native Americans, African-Americans and Caucasians. Older area residents tell of a large whites-only cemetery and a smaller blacks-only cemetery. The Ft. Morgan Peninsula provides habitat for many endangered and threatened species and this site is part of the acquisition boundary of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. It is home to a broad diversity of plants and animals and provides an important resting and foraging stop for migrating birds. The property is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and we feel the appropriate future for this land is preservation in its natural state.
