LANSING, Mich., Sept. 10 MI-FuneralMuseumExhib
LANSING, Mich., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Museum of Funeral Customs in
Springfield, IL, has taken to the road with an inspiring educational mobile
exhibit: Reflections: The American Funeral. In collaboration with Mobility
Resource Associates, the museum will showcase some of its unique collection of
funeral objects, photographs and historical documents in a state-of-the-art
double-expandable exhibit trailer.
Sections of the exhibit are dedicated to all veterans and public safety
officers with special recognition of all U.S. National cemeteries around the
world. Each guest will receive a copy of the actual visitors guide from
Arlington National Cemetery.
From the cross-country funeral procession for Abraham Lincoln to the
national outpouring of grief for Elvis Presley, America has a rich history of
mourning the dead. Reflections: The American Funeral explores these
traditions, beginning with Native American burial mounds and ending with the
diverse rituals practiced across the country today.
A special international section showcases the spectrum of practices from
the ancient Egyptians to modern burials for kings, popes and princesses. An
extraordinary replica of King Tutankhamen's sarcophagus is of special
interest.
"We created this mobile experience to communicate the valuable role of
funeral professionals and their commitment to provide for the needs of the
families during times of sorrow," says Harry Kurtz, President of MRA. "There
are intriguing stories of funeral practices throughout the centuries and this
exhibit will educate people on those stories and enable them to connect to the
universal human experience of death."
Despite changes in funeral customs over the years, the intrinsic value of
a funeral for the living remains. Reflections seeks to reinforce this truth,
serving as a reminder that the purpose of funerals extends far beyond caring
for remains. The typical American funeral today differs from a few years
prior, giving rise to more cremations and even on-line obituaries. But one
thing remains unchanged, says funeral director and acclaimed author Thomas
Lynch: "A good funeral gets the dead where they need to go and the living
where they need to be."
"Death touches all living beings, and grieving humans throughout time have
ritualized death as a natural response during the mourning process," says Jon
Austin, Executive Director of the Museum of Funeral Customs. "This exhibit
showcases and interprets funeral objects, rituals, and customs and their
effect on global society."
The tour is dedicated to thousands of individuals, from funeral directors
and EMS workers to florists and gravediggers, the countless quiet heroes who
go to work every day and help carry the burden of other people's grief.
Exhibit sponsors include Legacy.com -- the leader in the online memorial
and obituary market in partnership with over 650 U.S., UK and Canadian
newspapers -- and Kates-Boylston Publications, the parent company of American
Funeral Director magazine, a leading independent trade magazine for funeral
directors and other funeral service professionals. Kates-Boylston Publications
has been helping funeral professionals succeed and serve for over 130 years.
Reflections: The American Funeral will open for visitors at the Lansing
Center (www.lansingcenter.com) located at 333 East Michigan Avenue, at the
corner of North Cedar Street on Thursday, September 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00
p.m. and Friday, September 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
A special ceremony to open the exhibit and remember all patriot heroes
will be held at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, September 11. Mayor Virg Bernerno and
other dignitaries are expected to attend.
Additional sponsorship and appearance inquires are welcome and can be
submitted to Frank Lorbach at FrankL@goMRA.com.
ABOUT MUSEUM OF FUNERAL CUSTOMS
The Museum of Funeral Customs provides the public with a deeper
understanding of the history of American funeral and mourning customs,
funerary art, and practice; fosters an appreciation of history within the
funeral profession; and encourages further study of the subject. Visit
www.FuneralMuseum.org
ABOUT MRA
Mobility Resource Associates, headquartered in St. Clair Shores, MI, is a
marketing resource organization specializing in custom mobile tour vehicle
sales and leasing, tour equipment and logistics management. For over 15 years,
MRA has provided planning, implementation, logistics and tour management for
the mobile marketing and exhibiting objectives of museums and many Fortune
1000 firms in association with leading agencies and exhibit builders
worldwide. www.goMRA.com
SOURCE Mobility Resource Associates
