Cemeteries
Cemeteries are areas of land where bodies are laid to rest by their families. This way they can be honored and remembered. Out of respect for those that have passed from this world it is expected to be quiet when you visit a cemetery. People bring flowers, mementos, and just come to talk with their loved ones. Most towns have at least one cemetery and they do their best to keep it peaceful and beautiful.
You may have noticed many different types of tombstones as you walk through a cemetery. People are able to create different styles for those they loved in memory of them. Some are very basic and others are quite elaborate. You will come upon some with a name but no date yet. This is because individuals can buy cemetery plots while they are still alive. It helps offset the burden on the family after they are gone. It also allows them to be buried by their spouse and even children that have passed on before them.
Some individuals view cemeteries as a place that is creepy and scary. They are worried about spirits out there. For teenagers, it can be a place to get a quick thrill as they like to scare each other. Cemeteries are synonymous with Halloween and people will go there just for fun. Many cemeteries have night watchmen to prevent people from being disrespectful there. There is a great deal of vandalism that can take place in a cemetery which is extremely disrespectful to the people that are laid to rest there.
Not all cemeteries are for the bodies of people though. Some are for the cremated remains as not everyone wants to take them home and keep them. Others are for pets that people loved like family for years and years. They don’t feel right just disposing of their bodies. There are some very old graveyards out there as well. You can find some that day back centuries. They are very old and often not well taken care of.
There are cemeteries for military veterans as well. They are honored for their sacrifices that they made for their country. One of the most famous is Arlington National Cemetery where thousands of soldiers are laid to rest. They are a reminder of how much freedoms in our country has cost.
Pet Cemetery
Those of us who are avid readers of Stephen King novels may have a very different impression of pet cemeteries than what they really are. In this novel that was later turned into a full length movie, a doctor and his family relocate to a new area. When the daughter’s cat dies the father buries it at the pet cemetery. However, he soon learns that there is a type of evil lurking in that old Indian burial ground.
Everything comes at a price from pet cemetery. It isn’t long before the man’s son dies. Due to the families overwhelming grief they take the child to the cemetery as well. Yet what returns from the pet cemetery isn’t the same as the person or the animal that was once a living creature. This particular thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat whether you read the book or watch the movie.
In reality though, a pet cemetery is a place to take animals that have died to rest in peace. They are designed very similar to a cemetery for people. When you think about some animals remaining with a family for decades, they deserve to be well taken care of when their life has ended. Having a place where the family can go visit the deceased pet can help with the healing process.
Some families own enough land where they can create their own pet cemetery. They choose an area of the land for this specific purpose. In many ways this is less expensive than a pet cemetery that is owned by a company. The cost of a small plot there is often more than one may be readily able to pay.
There are plenty of pet cemeteries out there to choose from as they are growing in popularity. You can choose a lovely headstone for your pet and write something nice as a memorial. For those that aren’t pet lovers, this concept may seem far fetched. However, may animal owners love the idea of their pets being in such a location.
You may have to look around to find out what options you have available. Some pet cemeteries are limited to only dogs or cats. Others allow any type of pet regardless of the type and the size. The price is generally based on the amount of space you will need to use in order to bury your pet.
Arlington National Cemetery
Since 1864 Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Virginia has served as a final resting place for those that served in the armed forces. It is the oldest cemetery of its kind in the world. There is more than 600 acres of ground here that was donated to the United States government for this purpose. In addition to the names of people on the tombstones, there are some unknown soldiers that have been laid to rest there as well.
There are a number of specific requirements that have to be met in order for an individual to be buried in this particular cemetery. They have to have served in the armed forces and be in good standing at the time of their death. Any one that was dishonorably discharged is not eligible. Many people don’t realize that the spouses and the children of those buried in Arlington National Cemetery can be eligible to be buried there as well.
There are many different memorials found throughout Arlington National Cemetery. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is very popular and it is a reminder of those that remain nameless in their desire to serve their country. There is also a wonderful memorial to honor the astronauts aboard the space shuttle Challenger that exploded upon take off in the 1980’s. The newest memorial is to honor the 184 victims that died at the Pentagon as a result of the terrorist attacks on 09/11/01.
Funerals continue to take place at Arlington National Cemetery each day of the week. On average there are 20 different services in the facility on any given day. This includes those for individuals to be buried and those to be cremated.
Arlington National Cemetery is one of the most visited attractions in the United States. More than four million people visit there each year. The amphitheatre located there allows people to take an up close and personal view of the history of the United States. It is a sobering look at the reality of the price of freedom.
It is a constant reminder of the sacrifices for our country. The men and women that are buried at this particular cemetery deserve to be honored for the legacy they have allowed the rest of us to benefit from. More than 300,000 individuals that have served in the armed forces are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Ancient Cemeteries
Ancient cemeteries seem to hold a mysterious element that many people are interested in. There are often superstitions involved in this as well. The most popular type of ancient cemeteries is those of the Egyptians. The fact that elaborate tombs were build to bury them in is very interesting. They were buried with treasures, food, and other things to take into the after life with them. It was considered to be part of the crew to build these tombs.
Many times those involved in the process were later killed so they couldn’t tell anyone how to get into the tomb. This prevented tomb raiders from getting into their items and taking it. There are superstitions that talk about the curses that bestow those that have taken the treasures from such tombs. There are certainly enough stories out there to make one wonder.
One thing is clear – ancient cemeteries hold a great deal of history. In addition to reading the dates on the tombstones, you can get an idea of what happened. If you identify a cemetery with hundreds of people dead around the same time you can assume there was a battle or an epidemic of an illness that wiped them out. You can also identify the developments of their culture by the architectural design of the tombstones and the cemeteries.
Even though these cemeteries are ancient, they should still be respected and honored. They are a part of our heritage and our society. Some cultures are more respectful of their ancient cemeteries though than others. For example the Indians hold this land as sacred and they won’t use it for anything else. Others are up to the task of moving these ancient cemeteries if they feel a need to.
You can find out plenty of information about ancient cemeteries online. You may find visiting some of them to be quite exciting. Take the time to read the information the tombstones and to honor those that have been buried there. Ancient cemeteries are a legacy that can’t be replaced. Even though these people are no longer living their final resting place should be left alone. It is a matter of honor and respect for those that walked the Earth before us.
Graveyards
Graveyards are places where the bodies of people that have died are placed. Sometimes it can include the cremated remains of those that didn’t wish to have their entire bodies placed into a casket and then placed underground. Most graveyards are very well kept in order to honor those that will be eternally resting in them. You will often find plenty of beautiful flowers, lovely trees, and green grass to provide a very peaceful landscaping.
Graveyards can hold thousands of tombstones of people that have died. They can also be small such as those used for family burial grounds. These types are privately owned and also privately kept up. Prison facilities often have graveyards too for those prisoners that die in the facilities. Too many of them aren’t claimed by their families so they have no place to go.
Sacred graveyards have become harder to find as time goes by. They historical importance of them has become forgotten due to the changes in society. In many instances there aren’t any direct relatives left to go visit these graveyards. You may discover the tombstones there to show people have been dead in that location for centuries.
In many areas, historical records attempt to keep track of those buried in such graveyards. This information can come in helpful when someone is trying to trace their ancestry. There is plenty of history to be found in these ancient graveyards as well.
The view individuals have on graveyards is very different. Some people find them to be a calm and peaceful location to visit their loved ones. Others associate them with scary movies and the supernatural. It is said that most graveyards do have a creepy feel to them after dark. Yet if you are out to visit some one that is buried there you can easily do it during the day.
The concept of having a graveyard doesn’t just apply to people. There are more and more of them in place for pets as well. The strong bond that humans have with their pets isn’t easily forgotten when they die. A graveyard plot for your pet can serve as a place to visit them and to honor the fond memories you have of them.