By Associated Press
Vance, AL – The city of Vance plans to relocate the remains of a small Civil War cemetery late this summer as part of its efforts to build a municipal park.
The Evans Cemetery holds the remains of several Union and one unidentified Confederate soldier who were killed during the Battle of Trion toward the end of the Civil War. Vance purchased about 40 acres that includes the cemetery, which is in a wooded-area between U-S Highway 11 and Wire Road, from a local family.
Mayor Keith Mahaffey said the town will have to move the remains to nearby Vance Cemetery to build a park, which will require legal advertising, a license from the Alabama Historical Commission and the hiring of a licensed funeral home or registered archaeologist.
Once unearthed, the remains will have to be properly reintered in compliance with state law.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)