General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
RE: U-534 / War graves
Posted by:
Tonya Allen
()
Date: February 27, 2001 04:32PM
<HTML>Hi Raymond and everyone,
In answer to #2, here is my completely personal, subjective opinion.
A war grave ceases to be a war grave after everyone who knew the dead are also dead, and after the event which resulted in the war grave is no longer part of living memory. According to this definition, wrecks, sites and remains from World War I or later would constitute war graves. Anything 19th century or earlier would not.
As an example, where I live in the United States farmers are still plowing up bones of soldiers who died in the American Civil War of the 1860s. I don\'t have any strong feelings when I hear about these cases because there\'s no possibility that I or any of my family knew whoever it was. Whereas, when I see or hear of someone removing remains or personal possessions from a 20th century war grave, several things go through my mind: 1. What if this person\'s mother/wife/brother/son is watching this? How are they going to feel about this? 2. What if somewhere in the world someone is disrespectfully handling the bones or possessions of one of my family who never came back from the war?
I have very strong feelings about the sanctity of war graves. My personal opinion is that everything should either be left undisturbed or returned to the next of kin. There are enough surviving veterans of every war who donate their medals, uniforms, etc. to museums, we don\'t have to turn to war graves to get these things. Photos and video of famous sites should be sufficient.
After discussing this topic with a number of other people, I have come to realize that my opinions on this subject are a bit extreme, so I don\'t expect too many of you to agree with what I\'ve said, but I welcome any responses, dissenting or otherwise.</HTML>
In answer to #2, here is my completely personal, subjective opinion.
A war grave ceases to be a war grave after everyone who knew the dead are also dead, and after the event which resulted in the war grave is no longer part of living memory. According to this definition, wrecks, sites and remains from World War I or later would constitute war graves. Anything 19th century or earlier would not.
As an example, where I live in the United States farmers are still plowing up bones of soldiers who died in the American Civil War of the 1860s. I don\'t have any strong feelings when I hear about these cases because there\'s no possibility that I or any of my family knew whoever it was. Whereas, when I see or hear of someone removing remains or personal possessions from a 20th century war grave, several things go through my mind: 1. What if this person\'s mother/wife/brother/son is watching this? How are they going to feel about this? 2. What if somewhere in the world someone is disrespectfully handling the bones or possessions of one of my family who never came back from the war?
I have very strong feelings about the sanctity of war graves. My personal opinion is that everything should either be left undisturbed or returned to the next of kin. There are enough surviving veterans of every war who donate their medals, uniforms, etc. to museums, we don\'t have to turn to war graves to get these things. Photos and video of famous sites should be sufficient.
After discussing this topic with a number of other people, I have come to realize that my opinions on this subject are a bit extreme, so I don\'t expect too many of you to agree with what I\'ve said, but I welcome any responses, dissenting or otherwise.</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
U-534
|
Takeo | 02/26/2001 07:22PM |
|
RE: U-534
|
2000 | 02/26/2001 08:52PM |
|
RE: U-534
|
Craig McLean | 02/27/2001 03:57AM |
|
RE: U-534
|
Takeo | 02/27/2001 04:39AM |
|
RE: U-534
|
Fin Bonset | 02/27/2001 01:29PM |
|
RE: U-534 / War graves
|
Raymond Groothuizen | 02/27/2001 01:26PM |
|
RE: U-534 / War graves
|
Rainer Bruns | 02/27/2001 01:52PM |
|
RE: U-534 / War graves
|
Tonya Allen | 02/27/2001 04:32PM |
|
RE: U-534 / War graves
|
Takeo | 02/27/2001 05:29PM |
|
RE: U-534 / War graves
|
Steve Cooper | 02/27/2001 06:55PM |
|
RE: U-534 / War graves
|
Takeo | 02/27/2001 07:22PM |
|
RE: U-534 / War graves
|
kelley green | 03/01/2001 03:19AM |
|
RE: U-534 / War graves
|
vin | 03/01/2001 07:46AM |
|
a thought
|
Dietzsch | 02/28/2001 06:36AM |
|
RE: a thought
|
Takeo | 02/28/2001 10:29AM |
|
RE: a thought
|
Steve Cooper | 02/28/2001 03:01PM |
|
RE: a thought
|
Takeo | 02/28/2001 05:56PM |
|
RE: a thought
|
Steve Cooper | 02/28/2001 07:33PM |
|
RE: U-534
|
Stig Thornsohn | 03/01/2001 11:48AM |
|
RE: U-534
|
Takeo | 03/01/2001 05:40PM |
|
RE: U-534
|
Stig Thornsohn | 03/02/2001 12:01AM |
|
RE: Ehime Maru - a grave site?
|
kurt | 03/02/2001 04:24AM |