I have been interested in my family's genealogy since the 1970's. While most of my effort has focused on my surname, I recently started other lines on the maternal side, which is generally of german ancestry.

When I went to Germany for the first time in 2008 to visit friends, little did I realize that I was an hour away from the locations where my maternal great-grantmother and great-great grandparents (and even further back) were born, and where many (i.e., those who did not emigrate) died. So, learning this gave me another reason to go back in 2009.

Searching for graves in Germany is particularly difficult due to the custom of recycling graves (i.e., the older graves are disinterred, the remains cremated) to make room for recent burials.

I live within 1/2 mile of one of the largest cemeteries in New Jersey (Eglington Cemetery, in Clarksboro). For many years, I actually lived with 300 feet of it. When my great aunt and uncle were still alive, and we were much younger, we used to walk through the entire cemetery on what he called Decoration Day (Memorial Day). Uncle Henry knew where all of the veterans of his lodge were buried and ensured that American flags were placed at each grave every year. I wonder who does that now. His lodge no longer exists.

Hollis F. Veley III (Rock)

I have been interested in my family's genealogy since the 1970's. While most of my effort has focused on my surname, I recently started other lines on the maternal side, which is generally of german ancestry.

When I went to Germany for the first time in 2008 to visit friends, little did I realize that I was an hour away from the locations where my maternal great-grantmother and great-great grandparents (and even further back) were born, and where many (i.e., those who did not emigrate) died. So, learning this gave me another reason to go back in 2009.

Searching for graves in Germany is particularly difficult due to the custom of recycling graves (i.e., the older graves are disinterred, the remains cremated) to make room for recent burials.

I live within 1/2 mile of one of the largest cemeteries in New Jersey (Eglington Cemetery, in Clarksboro). For many years, I actually lived with 300 feet of it. When my great aunt and uncle were still alive, and we were much younger, we used to walk through the entire cemetery on what he called Decoration Day (Memorial Day). Uncle Henry knew where all of the veterans of his lodge were buried and ensured that American flags were placed at each grave every year. I wonder who does that now. His lodge no longer exists.

Hollis F. Veley III (Rock)