Tombstones of the Rich and Famous

Scott Hardie | October 31, 2009
Here's a morbid question for Halloween: Could you make a trip out of visiting famous graves? Or take time out from a trip to visit a famous grave? Maybe you already have and I'm phrasing the question wrong.

It seems to be a frequent topic this Halloween, with online databases of graves growing in popularity, and a huge celebrity death this past summer. Seems morbid, but it does afford a personal connection with someone whose work meant something to you that you could never approach in life, and cemeteries are peaceful, contemplative places besides. I couldn't see taking a whole trip for this, but I wouldn't fault someone who did.

Amy Austin | October 31, 2009
This is actually what tomorrow is exactly for... famous or not.

I don't suppose that anybody noticed (I don't remember if I pointed it out or not) that my pink & white dress was a Day of the Dead dress, with little sugar skullies all over it? I thought it would be the right time to wear it, and even though I never go grave-visiting, I suppose that it might be just the right thing to wear then, too.

I wouldn't go out of my way, either, but... if it isn't costing me anything, there doesn't need to be much reason for me to go into a cool old cemetery -- there were a bunch in Rhode Island that I'm sorry as hell I didn't go to before I left (I drove through them practically every day, though!). Word has it that some unknown German WWII submariners are buried there, after being blown up offshore -- my friend Lee and I thought that was definitely something to check out and try to hunt down (he had an approximate idea of where they were located)... but we never actually got around to doing it. :-(

Another Newport event that I'm sorry to have missed out on -- especially at this time of the year -- is the walking ghost tours of all the supposedly haunted places in the area. The only Halloween event I caught was the Pumpkin Walk at Ballard Park... once.

Most all of these things are much more fun with conspirators, I think.

Steve West | October 31, 2009
I've been to Arlington several times. That doesn't exactly fit the criteria you were establishing but technically does. I don't go to the National Cemetery for morbid reasons. I go for patriotic ones. The Tomb of the Unknowns is a special ceremony and the Eternal Flame is beautiful although somewhat spare. I bring this up because there is a bit of morbid spectacle when viewing the fields of headstones from atop a nearby hill. The view is beautiful in an incredibly sad way.

The actual morbid part comes from seeing all of the graves of the people who reached "celebrity" status to whom I have no real connection. People like Audie Murphy, Pappy Boyington, and Joe Louis; genuine heroes all but I don't go because of any connection to their heroism but because of their fame. The Challenger display is exactly that - a display. It's a bit of a show. I keep going back, though.

BTW - I'd go see the Hendrix gravesite if I got the chance.

Aaron Shurtleff | October 31, 2009
I wanted to see Bobby Fischer's grave site while I was in Iceland, but it didn't happen. I thought it was in Reykjavik city, but it was out in the wilds. I drove through the area, too, darn it!

I would take time out to do so, but unless it was someone of particular importance to me (and I cant think of anyone off hand), I would not plan a trip specifically for that purpose.