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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE / GOALS
Our Pioneer Cemeteries and Burial Grounds are disappearing at an alarming rate. Many are not being maintained, many are being innocently lost to brush and blackberries but some are falling under the malicious damage of vandals and (Satanic) ritualistic rites. Grave robbing and theft is becoming more common. Some sites are suffering an incursion of homeless folk who leave piles of trash.
History is disappearing before it can be recorded.
With the heightened interest in the paranormal, more and more groups want to do outdoor investigations and cemeteries often are first on their list.. Which has often brought the groups into conflict with the owners - caretakers of the sites, sadly, sometimes for good reason as not all ghost hunting groups are respectful.
But paranormal investigation groups have a vested interest in saving cemeteries and burial grounds, as well as all historical sites. A thorough paranormal investigation INCLUDES research into history genealogies and with continued service can contribute much to the site.
Bringing owners-caretakers and paranormal investigators together for the common purpose of rescuing the sites would benefit everyone involved. Herein is the suggested means for doing so.
RECOMMENDATIONS for caretakers/ curators:
- Have the paranormal investigation team give a reference that can be easily checked out with an email or phone call. Don't trust what is put on their web site.
- Be clear what the site's rules and regulations are. Rules could be posted on website or available for download.
- If the team has objections to the rules (for example: they want to stay all night in a cemetery although that is not allowed), they are not a reputable group.
- The team signs the (state - site) liability - release form or fills it out online (easier) and submits it.
- The team volunteers services and/or joins the Heritage Foundation by paying a nominal fee. With the fee they would receive a personalized Heritage Foundation "Seal" that the team could display on their website which would help to validate the team to future caretakers/curators.
- Statewide listing of pioneer cemeteries & burial grounds with contact information. A (banner) notation shows which sites allow paranormal investigation groups to enter. The list may be added to as more owners-caretakers come around.
- Groups agree to post findings (do a REVEAL) with the designated heritage location and to share such a location and the findings ONLY with this organization, the owner-caretaker and the state organization (Kuri Gill) . The findings can then be posted to the Heritage Foundation Board to aide both the Paranormal Researchers and Heritage Foundation Staff in finding answers with open discussion and ongoing research.
- Paranormal investigation teams must respect the wishes of the owners - caretakers. For example, certain areas may be off limits because of decaying burial plots, cave-ins, or on-going restoration projects. If the caretaker says NO ENTRY, IT MEANS NO ENTRY.
*IMPORTANT: In and around cemeteries - no loud noises, flashing lights, or other activities which disturb the 'residents', both living and deceased. Absolutely no rituals, religious rites, fires - including candles. Especially, no looting or grave robbing, not even for 'souvenirs'. |
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