warzone

I took a trip to Oakland Cemetery in Hampton, VA, yesterday looking for interesting pictures for my photography class. Oakland Cemetery was established in 1861. It was abandoned by the property owners so many graves are overgrown by weeds and grass. Many of our military are buried there but have been forgotten. These two pictures evoked a lot of emotion for me. The first one shows headstones which have been leaning against a tree because no one knows where, or even if, the bodies of these military men are buried in the cemetery. They are truly forgotten heroes. I love the caption on Mr. Morris' headstone. Wish you didn't have to die to know if that's true :)

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jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's very odd. You'd think there would be laws protecting cemeteries, especially military cemeteries.

Tom G Loc: Atlanta, GA

Regrettable, Indeed; however, who were the property owners who abandon the cemetery?

If the Cemetery were owned & abandoned by a private citizen(s), the municipality has the responsibility to make the owner(s) maintain the property according to Code, pay property taxes on the property. If they don't, is it not the municipality's responsibility to condemn the property, seize it, and maintain it according to code?

If, instead, the property is owned by the local municipality, the city/town/county council are not doing their job(s). I'm not a lawyer, but there must be a legal answer to this, Yes?

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

A cemetery where war heroes have been buried should be a sacred place. Like others, I cannot understand how the local government of that place has done nothing to honor those fallen. It is a pity and a disgrace in my opinion.
Excellent images by the way.

warzone

I agree. It is very sad. If you want more detail, here is an article published by our local station.

https://wtkr.com/2015/08/21/taking-action-for-historic-hampton-cemetery-in-need-of-maintenance/

danniepolley

Sad