Cemetery Preservation

A huge misconception I often see when people install replacement headstones for veterans is that the original marker must be removed or destroyed. Many people believe this is required by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, but that’s not always the case.

In 2022, the Pioneer Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) accepted the challenge of cleaning the nearly 100-year-old statue. They soon realized that not only was the statue in need of cleaning, but the marble veteran headstones were in similar condition. The project became known as the “Monumental Challenge.”

Sunburst lichen is one of the most damaging biological growths found on gravestones, especially on older marble and limestone markers that are already soft from decades of weathering.

Buckets, brushes, and bottles get rinsed, dried, and tucked away in sheds and basements until the ground thaws again.

Preservation, laughter, and a slip-and-slide down a West Virginia hill. What more could you ask for?

Every cemetery tells a story. Some stones shine bright with fresh flowers and family visits, while others sit quietly, weathered by time, their inscriptions slowly fading. For many of us at GraveGeek Volunteers Inc., those forgotten stones are where our hearts pull us the most.