Alabama Councilman removes Confederate Flags from Confederate graves.

[5 th Alabama Infantry]

Alabama Councilman removes Confederate Flags from Confederate graves.

http://www.oanow.com/oan/news/local/..._graves/69708/

Another outrageous assault on our Confederate Heritage

[DamYankee25]

Wow, I'm at a loss for words. I hope they sue this guy or do something, those graves are technically private property not this jerk.

[mladair]

...those graves are technically private property...

While the article implies that the graves are "owned" by the families, and therefore private property, that may not necessarily be the case. One would have to specifically look at the legal documents, deeds, etc.

I sit on my local city cemetery board, and while we sell lots, and the purchasers receive deeds, they only receive the right to bury someone in that lot. They do NOT own the lot, or have the rights to do whatever they want on those lots. It is a common misconception that you always "own" the land of a burial lot. It may be true in some cases, but in many, you only "own" the rights to bury someone there.

Matt Adair

[sbl]

Topsfield, Massachusetts.....

[5 th Alabama Infantry]

Topsfield, Massachusetts.....

Scott

Your photo is much appreciated and our thanks to who ever placed the flags.

Elliott

[sbl]

I shot the photo in 2008. My Union unit was in on the dedication of the new stone for William Buckner back in the 90s. There's a man in a local vet organization the keeps up the grave. There are several other Confederate graves in Rowley, Ma. and Rockport, Ma.

Not being down there I don't know what the whole story is. Too bad it looks like a black/white thing. I frankly think the dead should be left alone and that some communication with folks offended could be reached. Hey that's just me.

[Jim Mayo]

Could be that he is guilty of descration of a grave site. It is the same as if he knocked over the grave stone. That is a crime in most places.

[48alabama]

This pathetic individual got exactly what he wanted.......his photo in the newspaper.Also,wearing a cross on his neck.What a hippocrite.Selective forgive and forget.
Mark Hull

[sbl]

Could be that he is guilty of descration of a grave site. It is the same as if he knocked over the grave stone. That is a crime in most places.

It sounds more like bad judgement rather than intentional destruction.

[gwagner]

S13A-7-23.1

(a) Any person who willfully or maliciously injures, defaces, removes or destroys any tomb, monument, gravestone or other memorial of the dead, or any fence or any inclosure about any tomb, monument, gravestone or memorial, or who willfully and wrongfully destroys, removes, cuts, breaks or injures any tree, shrub, plant, flower, decoration, or other real or personal property within any cemetery or graveyard shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.


E-mail the mayor and let him know how you feel, and the council.

Mayor bham@auburnalabama.org
City Council coagbemail@auburnalabama.org