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Cemetery Drive

"My project is a rather simple idea that I carried over from England. I have always had a strange passion for old cemeteries, and I believe that everyone should have a better memorial than a stone lying in the middle of a field. Therefore, my project is to go beyond cemetery preservation and create a garden-like atmosphere. I want to plant flowers, create innovative benches, and have a memorial plaque for those who lived when the county was brand new. All in all, I do not want people to be afraid or discouraged from visiting these sites any longer.
You are probably wondering “how is this innovative?”  The plan is to turn this project over to the kids to let them design the landscaping and research the forgotten gravesite. I plan to work with 5th grade students in Tipton County, which will adopt a cemetery, and then, a local business will sponsor that particular classroom. I feel that this project is important because 1) it is allowing these children to have a jump-start on researching, 2) it is expressing the importance of local history, and 3) it is allowing anyone who is interested to work together to create something beautiful for the community. The main goal of my project is to begin to alter individuals’ minds to appreciate the preservation of history. Hopefully, starting young and hands-on will be the way to embed a meaning."