Solution to 40 years of mistakes?? Easy. Submit the matter to the state attorney general for a formal opinion based on state law (yes, the AG issues formal opinions on matters of cemetery law). In other words, ask the AG if the City is in compliance with state laws. Surely someone with a moniker like "respect the rangers" would welcome justice and transparency, right??

For the last time: Re-inter and move on. For pity’s sake, spare us another of your regurgitations of a 42 year old mistake. Please, at long last, present us with YOUR brilliant solution.

Respect the Rangers - I didn't spend time destroying your entire argument because I figured you'd give up after I revealed that your "facts" are not credible. But you seem to enjoy this, so let's keep going. Now you've decided to admit that you were incorrect when you argued that the lower portion of the cemetery was "not ever a legal, recognized burial ground." Your new spin is that the lower portion of the cemetery was once legal, but that the size of the cemetery was reduced (I assume you refer to the 1968 court order). Since you seem to have access to all the paperwork, go back and check Judge Anderson's judgment on that court order. It specifies that the graves and contents therein are to be relocated. Since, with maybe one or two exceptions, the city neglected to move the bodies, the validity of the order is in "legal limbo" according to the Texas Historical Commission's legal counsel. But that's a moot point now since HB2927, passed last year to amend Chap. 711 of the TX Health and Safety Code, defines a dedicated cemetery as any cemetery containing one or more graves. So...it's a legal cemetery. Further, the area with the new buildings is also registered with the McLennan County clerk's office as an abandoned cemetery (these cemeteries are dedicated, too). Need help with anything else? And by the way, the Native American argument is a non sequitur, dude.

In re-reading my second message, I now realize that I typed "that area was not ever a legal, recognized burial ground." I did not intend to use the word "ever" in that statement. That word changes my meaning greatly. I was in error and I apologize. Proof-reading is all important in such discussions.

She-Part: Just as I (Dude) expected, the first one to respond misses the point completely. But then again, maybe I (Dude) was not clear. I (Dude) happen to be someone who was privilege to the details of the newly discovered remains, before it was general news. I (Dude) have seen the detailed maps and charts showing exactly what WAS the legal cemetery then and exactly how it was reduced to the boundaries in place now. At the time Fort Fisher was planned and built, everything was done LEGALLY (under Federal, State and Local law, if any, then on the books) to clear the area designated. We can discuss forever if everything was done MORALLY and I (Dude) freely admit that it probably . . . no obviously was not. When the structures were built, that portion of land, legally though not morally, was not a cemetery. You say you can show me (Dude) the deeds. I (Dude) know very well that they will report exactly what you say. I (Dude) can’t show you any deeds in another, much larger case but I (Dude) can show you in the history books that the original owners of Texas belonged to the Native American. Shall we return everything to them now? A ridiculous argument, don’t you agree? The point is: Re-inter those poor people and get on with the present.

Respect the Rangers - Dude, the new buildings are not only in a "legal" cemetery, they're in Waco's first public cemetery, and this cemetery is so significant that the National Park Service has determined that it is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Do yourself a favor and crack a book! Do I need to send you the original deeds to the property?

It is my belief that no desecration of the First Street Cemetery has taken place. Any desecration that has occurred in recent months was unintentional due to the fact that the area where remains have been discovered is outside of the First Street Cemetery boundaries and that area was not ever a legal, recognized burial ground. Yes, some local leaders back in the 1960s may have (or probably did) know that remains were present when plans for Fort Fisher were approved and construction was begun and completed. But those individuals, either dead or long retired, are no longer running things. Current leaders knew nothing of them and were just as shocked as anyone when remains were found. With that said, my statements here will now be ridiculed and insultingly dismissed by the factually uneducated who seem to live to vent so crudely in this forum. So what do we do now? The ludicrous idea of tearing down existing structures is not the answer. Current leaders are doing everything possible to respectfully reinter those unfortunate souls whose rest has been so disturbingly interrupted. They (the current leaders) are honest, honorable people trying to correct a 40+ year old violation (to put it mildly.) I say, "Give them a chance to fix what is fixable and let's move on with one of the true treasures we have, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum and the Headquarters of Ranger Company F." Now, let the attacks begin/continue on the city, the museum and this writer. I hope readers here will sit back and enjoy them. I only hope the legendary Texas Rangers, so unjustly caught in the middle of this, will not be included in their wailings.

More excuses for the descecration of First Street Cemetery which should have never been allowed. When the city finds a more profitable use for the land, what's next? Oakwood? Rosemound? I will never honor the Ranger Museum due to the way it was obtained.

Continuing impediments to a great museum, a great law enforcement organization and the new Co. F headquarters tells me that the odor I smell is not coming from an ancient dump on the banks of the Brazos but from the general direction of Kerrville and that group's friends in Austin.