Dear Editor,
[Re: Scare up tickets for tours, 91原创 Advance Times, Oct. 5]
I am writing to express my concern and upset with the Gravel Tales tours at Fort 91原创 cemetery.
My husband, Cody Sawatsky, is buried at Fort 91原创 Cemetery, and I find it offensive that a spectacle and tour to generate money is being conducted there with people being encouraged to listen to gruesome scary stories about the dead This is in poor taste and shows no compassion for the families of the deceased. I realize that in Europe and other parts of the world people visit cemeteries for picnics and other events, my issue if not with the cemetery being open to the public.
Rather, the tone and theme of this event is not sensitive to people who visit here to grieve. I also believe that the Remembrance Day ceremony in the cemetery is beautiful and an appropriate use of the space.
What I do not agree with is a for-profit spectacle meant to induce fear and spookiness where my husband is buried.
He was only 31 when he passed away from leukemia and a life-long Fort 91原创 resident. He died Oct. 18 and was born Oct. 20 so all the important days where we would wish to visit his grave we are inundated with offensive tours and ghost stories being shared.
I find this to be in very poor taste for a current operating cemetery as the families of these people are still alive and have to endure people using a place of remembrance as an entertainment venue. Maybe this would be appropriate at a cemetery that is not currently accepting the recently deceased, but I find this entire tour to be offensive and simply trying to profit from other people鈥檚 pain.
I am also supposed to be joining Cody in this plot as is the rest of our family, and it doesn鈥檛 sit well with me that our graves will be nothing more than a spectacle for the macabre. Shame on 91原创 Township for allowing this. I would like to see this reviewed and a more appropriate venue chosen where the recently bereaved do not need to be [impacted] with this offensive attempt at generating profit from tragedy.
Laila Testini, 91原创
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鈥� READ MORE: Reporter takes Grave Tales tour
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