Hi, As Chairman of the Lower Makefield Historical Commission I have been trying for the last 3 years to get several Civil War soldiers new tombstones in our local National Register designated cemetery known as: Slate Hill Cemetery. For your information we have at least 20 Civil War soldiers buried here, 11 members of various northern units--I can give details, and 9 soldiers in a separate portion of the graveyard called "the segregated section" (yes really, sadly, not all African-Americans but largely so).
I have researched all of them. 3, 2 of the Colored Troops and 1 in the other section were not on a survey of graves made in 1926. We have learned of their burial here from local newspaper reports of the time they died. Several (3) older stones were almost illegible, including the one from the only soldier who actually died in battle in the Civil War, so I applied to the Veteran's Administration for new tombstones for these 6 of our soldiers, per their own regulations. They accepted my applications and the stones arrived almost 3 years ago to our local Public Works department.
Then I hit a stone wall. A 1992 State Statute, meant to deter vandalism of cemeteries, has been used by local officials to hold me up. (Must be a terrible person to want to do this.)
Our local officials have decided I, or rather the Township must apply to a County Judge to have it "okayed" by him to have the stones placed. After 2 years of other official delay, the township's lawyer's associate finally submitted that request to ? county judge. (He must be laughing and wondering what to do!)
Another Veteran's Day has passed and these guys still do not have their duly earned stones. PAPER WORK?
Any suggestions? Sorry to vent but this is ridiculous.
Dr. Helen A. Heinz, Yardley PA
I have researched all of them. 3, 2 of the Colored Troops and 1 in the other section were not on a survey of graves made in 1926. We have learned of their burial here from local newspaper reports of the time they died. Several (3) older stones were almost illegible, including the one from the only soldier who actually died in battle in the Civil War, so I applied to the Veteran's Administration for new tombstones for these 6 of our soldiers, per their own regulations. They accepted my applications and the stones arrived almost 3 years ago to our local Public Works department.
Then I hit a stone wall. A 1992 State Statute, meant to deter vandalism of cemeteries, has been used by local officials to hold me up. (Must be a terrible person to want to do this.)
Our local officials have decided I, or rather the Township must apply to a County Judge to have it "okayed" by him to have the stones placed. After 2 years of other official delay, the township's lawyer's associate finally submitted that request to ? county judge. (He must be laughing and wondering what to do!)
Another Veteran's Day has passed and these guys still do not have their duly earned stones. PAPER WORK?
Any suggestions? Sorry to vent but this is ridiculous.
Dr. Helen A. Heinz, Yardley PA
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