Students Took Photos of Gravestones for BillionGraves

Students from Siskiyou County in the Mount Shasta ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints took photos of gravestones at the Mount Shasta Memorial Park cemetery. The photos were for BillionGraves, and the students took and uploaded nearly 1,000 photographs.

BillionGraves states that it is the largest resource for searchable GPS cemetery data, and is growing bigger and better everyday. They ask for people to help by collecting headstone images from local and other cemeteries, and then by transcribing the personal information found on the images. There is a BillionGraves app that helps people to upload photos to the site, while capturing the GPS of every gravestone.

The Mount Shasta Memorial Park cemetery is described as “widely considered to be the most beautiful memorial park in northern California”. It has 15 acres of well-groomed lawns and towering pine trees, all surrounded by mountain views. The sun-lit Mt. Shasta Memorial Chapel is large and and able to comfortably accommodate substantial funeral services.

Mount Shasta News reported that the idea for the project the students worked on came from Cecilia Pearson, who coordinates the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints “Just Serve” campaign. The goal of the program is to coordinate community service activities. The activity was designed to teach students about family history and to serve others.

Those who are interested can visit the Mount Shasta California Family History Center, one of many Family History Centers run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The library is open on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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