Landing and departing on graves
A story written for All Saints' Day: Savannah/Hilton Head airport (SAV) is the only airport in the world with graves embedded in an active 2,850 m runway serving thousands of general and commercial operations annually.
In 1942, expanding military operations made it necessary for the US war department to declare a need for additional facilities. A lease was negotiated between the federal government and the city of Savannah for 4,500,000 sqm, at what is now SAV.
Part of this acquisition included a private cemetery of the Dotson family established in 1857. Their great grandchildren negotiated with the federal government and all but four of their ancestors were relocated to a cemetery.
The families wished for the graves to remain in place when westward extension of this runway was required during World War II. (ah)