On a recent warm and sunny day Husband and I trekked to a graveyard to take photos of headstones for Find A Grave.
This particular cemetery requires all headstones to be flat for easier "perpetual care". And while the grass was cut and the pathways were clear; some of the headstones, like this one, left me deeply saddened. Have you ever been told there is no headstone on your ancestor's grave? In a few more years the headstone pictured here could be completely covered.
How can we take a headstone photo for a family member if it looks like this? We simply cannot. We've prepared a cemetery kit for our personal use when we are out ancestor hunting which is helpful during these volunteer expeditions as well.
For starters, when visiting a cemetery, one must dress appropriately. Let's just say goose droppings can be plentiful. Choosing shoes that cover one's feet and prevent a wayward snake from slithering over one's toes is a good idea. Long pants and bug repellant will come in handy for fighting off ticks with nothing better to do than go than home with you. Sunscreen and a big hat are also wardrobe necessities. In our carry-along tool box we have:
- a first aid kit
- garden pads (for comfortable kneeling to take pictures)
- gardening gloves
- a sharp knife (to cut away overgrown grass)
- a handheld garden hoe
- a soft whisk broom
- trash bags
- a small mirror (to reflect the light for better photos)
- moist towelettes (it's hard to stay clean)
- extra batteries (cameras die at the silliest moments)
