Welcome to Parklawn Cemetery, also known as Parklawn Memorial Park and Menorah Gardens. This is one of several caches designed to highlight notable gravesites in the region. As always with cemetery caches please be respectful.
N 39 A.BCD W 77 W.XYZ
The first stage will bring you to the grave of Rachel Carson. Born in 1907, Carson was a naturalist and author most known for her 1962 book Silent Spring. This book (exposing the harmful effects of the chemical DDT) is widely credited with kickstarting the enviromentantal movement of the 1960s and 1970s. As she lived the last years of her life in Silver Spring before dying in 1964, many places in the area (perhaps some in which you have cached) are named after her.
Buried with Rachel Carson is her mother Maria.
A = the second digit of Maria's birth year divided by two.
BCD = the last three digits of Maria's birth year minus 817.
The next stage will bring you to the grave of Jeane Kirkpatrick. Born in 1926, Kirkpatrick was a prominent conservative intellectual who served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 1981 to 1985. During her time in the Reagan Administration, she advocated the 'Kirkpatrick Doctrine' which involved the U.S. supporting authoritarian regimes as long as they were anti-communist. Kirkpatrick died in 2006.
Buried near Jeane Kirkpatrick are Ellis and Susan Jane.
W = the number of letters in Ellis and Susan Jane's last name minus one.
X = the first digit in Ellis' death year.
YZ = the last two digits of Ellis' year of birth minus thirty-seven.
The final is not in the cemetery but is a short drive (or moderate walk) away.