Rick Sebak: A Cemetary Special - 2005

This was a fascinating documentary about the history of cemeteries across the country. There were in-depth looks at incredible examples of headstones and statues in some cemeteries and all different methods people use to recognize friends and family members that have passed on into the great beyond.

The documentary did explore the FIRST "CEMETERY" in the United State - called Mount Auburn, this cemetery was built outside Boston and designed in a park-like setting including water features, independent mausoleums and extensive headstone displays. This place actually acted in place of an art gallery or museum prior to there being places like that for the common man. Mount Auburn has a number of visitors daily that are really just there to appreciate their surroundings.

There was a very touching story about a man who died in the Civil War. Apparently he was shot and then died of gangrene poisoning a few days later. He was in the East when he passed away and he lived in Michigan. They were sending him home on a train and his body had decomposed so much by the time they made it to Pennsylvania, that he was taken off the train there and buried with other soldiers. His family in Michigan always wondered what happened to him - and by chance, they were able to locate the headstone - and they discovered the name was written incorrectly. It was documented as "EZ HAIL" instead of "EZ HALL". They petitioned to the Veteran's Administration to have the headstone replaced and eventually it was completed. They held a ceremony at the graveside to commemorate the occasion. Reinactors came to salute and family came from Michigan. It was a very special way to remember someone who was lost, but not ever forgotten.

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