Alleghany County
Cemetery Land Conveyance
Clifton Forge, Virginia
Thursday,
December 11, 2008
I am pleased
to be with you this morning on this occasion to formally transfer land from the
U. S. Forest Service to the Central Advent Christian Church. The land being conveyed is a 6.08 acre tract
which contains a cemetery that is currently operated by the Church.
Last year, I was approached by Buck
Rumpf, one of the Trustees for the Church.
Buck explained to me the history of the cemetery and the Church's effort
to obtain the 6.08 acre tract of land from the Forest Service. The federal government purchased the land
containing the cemetery in the 1930's as part of a larger 214 acre tract. The cemetery was originally developed in 1941
on both private land and the 6.08 acres from the U. S. Forest Service. The Church has operated the cemetery since
1941 under a Special Use Permit from the U. S. Forest Service.
As far back as
40 years ago, the Church has attempted to purchase the cemetery property from
the Forest Service; however, the resources necessary to purchase the property
at present market value have not been available. Given the facts that the property has much
more value to the Church than to the Forest Service, the property can not be
used for any other purpose, the cemetery requires upkeep and maintenance which
the Forest Service is not in a position to provide, and the property is a
liability for the Forest Service, it was clear to me the need for federal
legislation to transfer the cemetery property from the Forest Service to the
Church. After my conversation with Buck,
I introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to transfer the property,
and I am pleased to report that the legislation was approved by the Congress
and enacted into law earlier this year.
Today's event
formally transfers the deed for the 6.08 acres of land from the U. S. Forest
Service to the Central Advent Christian Church.
There are some
individuals with us today that I would like to recognize for their efforts on
this deed transfer.
First I would
like to recognize Trustees for the Central Advent Christian Church. The Trustees have made a commitment to the
community and the loved ones of those buried in the cemetery that it will be
maintained for future generations.
I would also
like to recognize Maureen Hyzer, Forest Supervisor for the George Washington
and Jefferson National Forest. Maureen has worked with other Forest Service
officials to complete the necessary paperwork to transfer the deed for the
property in a timely manner.
The land
transfer we are celebrating today is an example of what can be achieved when
citizen and government officials work together in the aid of a common purpose.
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