Cleaning Bronze Veteran Ground Level Flat Grave Marker Headstone
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- Опубликовано: 5 апр 2020
- Trae Zipperer demonstrates how to properly clean a bronze veteran ground level flat grave marker headstone issued by the National Cemetery Administration. Some veteran headstones made of bronze, marble, or granite are installed at ground level. These veteran grave markers begin to disappear as the grave marker settles and sinks below the surface, grass encroaches on all sides, and sediment such as dirt, sand, grass clippings, and fallen leaves accumulate on top of ground level veteran grave markers.
Ground level veteran grave markers made of bronze are affixed to a base stone, slightly larger than the bronze marker, made of concrete, marble, or granite. First, uncover the veteran grave marker out to the edge of the base stone. Second, remove approximately an inch of soil from around the edge of the base stone to allow water used for cleaning to run off the grave marker. Otherwise, water and debris will pool on top of the grave marker during the cleaning process. Third, sweep debris from atop the grave marker using a broom or bench brush. Fourth, clean the bronze veteran grave marker headstone using water and a soft bristle bathtub scrub brush. Fifth, clean the base stone using water, D/2 Biological Solution, and a soft bristle bathtub scrub brush. Finally, install a new American flag using a 15-inches long piece of 1/2 inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe as the flag holder.
My father is a Vietnam War vet buried in Gettysburg, PA. I live in NC. Three years ago, I visited for the first time since my mother passed, 10 years ago. Dad’s grave looked horrible! My god-daughter had moved to Gettysburg, so I would be visiting more often. When my husband and I returned about a year and a half later, we brought the garden tote so we could clean Dad’s grave. To my surprise, someone had already come along and done it. He even had a new flag and the little vase for flowers was cleaned out. I just came across this video. I’m sure you didn’t personally clean my father’s grave, but as a family member of a veteran who received a similar cleaning, I want to say a huge thank you! This truly means more than you will ever know. ❤
Thank you so much for the positive feedback. I know there are many people across the world who have volunteered to join this effort to clean every veteran headstone by Memorial Day, but we have only scratched the surface. I have no idea yet where someone has cleaned veteran headstones and where nobody has responded to my call to action.
Many don't even have a marker yet!?!
I am going to use this knowledge to clean my brothers and conisin's grave markers. Thank uou
I know what you’re feeling.
I would like to take this moment to say thank you for cleaning my grandpa’s grave
This guy Is investing his time in cleaning up graves of veterans he isn't related to, just for the sake of It.
I salute you.
Keeping their headstones clean is the least we can do compared to what they did for us.
THANK YOU for your service to those Veterans. GOD BLESS
I was too your post today. We have been waiting for 3 years for my mother's headstone. My father who was military and buried beside her is in desperate need for this. I didn't get the opportunity to know my father. You have given me the inspiration to honor him. Thank you for what you do,
Wonderful! I envision a day when every veteran of our past, including your father, has a Volunteer assigned to their grave to make sure their graves and headstones are respectfully maintained in perpetuity.
This is a great way to honor our vets who have died - but there are a lot that are still here, or who left widows behind. It would be nice if people would help care for their lawns, scoop their sidewalks, etc., to show our appreciation while they are still with us. Thanks for showing us how to care for their markers.
Great job, I love a clean gravestone. Thank you for your service Don Johnson 💐💐💐
Thank you for doing these unselfish acts and honoring these heroes!
I envision a day in the near future when every veteran grave will have assigned to it a loving Volunteer committed to ensuring their veteran's grave is respectfully cared for at all times, and especially clean by Memorial Day. Register as a Volunteer at VeteranGraves.com
You have inspired me a 51 Year old legally blind man who tried to sneak his way into the Navy at 16 years old and was told I couldn’t because of my vision and by watching this video I can certainly Honor one who did. I will clean a veterans marker in 2023 using this video as reference. Thank you for sharing this video, God Bless you Sir. We Salute You!
Thank you Jose! I can tell you we had a blind veteran who cleaned veteran headstones as a volunteer at every headstone cleaning event I organized here in Fort Myers, FL.
Bless you for taking your time to honor him the world needs more people like you 🙏♥️
Thank you for all your efforts in keeping the sites of our heroes clean.
What a beautiful and honourable tribute to veterans. Thank you.
Cleaning a veteran's grave marker is one of the most meaningful activities I have ever made an effort to tackle. We have much work to do as a NATION, but if we stay the course we will get every veteran headstone cleaned by Memorial Day.
Thanks for cleaning that veterans tombstone it came out nice.
You're welcome. It was my honor.
@@LifeRaw_co with these ground level bronze grave markers, you don't know the location of the edges of the base stone until you expose it. Also, you don't know if the base stone is made out of concrete, marble, or granite until you expose the base stone. In cemeteries such as the larger newer for-profit perpetual care type, grounds crews do use mechanical edgers to cut around the edges of the base stones. As volunteers of varying skills with mechanical edgers, and the unknowns beneath the encroaching sod, to make sure we do no harm is why I recommend using a hand tool as shown in this video. We also avoid using any powered tools because there's just too much risk of doing irreparable harm.
I agree and it break my heart to see headstone hard to read and overgrow with weeds.
@@LifeRaw_co I understand your heart is in the right place, but one ought to also take into consideration that Mr. Johnson was someone's family. It's one thing to go in and (properly) clean a headstone, but it's something else entirely to take it upon yourself to do any sort of structural alterations to the stone that could potentially damage or harm the stone. I know for me, I'd be PISSED if some stranger came in and effed around with my family's gravestone without our permission or knowledge! I've seen other RUclips videos of people who've gone and cleaned random stranger's headstones, with the best of intentions I'm sure, in COMPLETELY the wrong fashion! Power washers for one....on marble none-the-less!!! I was CRINGING the whole time watching them! I would be FURIOUS if some ignoramous came along and cleaned my any of my family's stones incorrectly and caused damage to them! It's better just to do what those like Trey do, go in, clean them properly, and do no harm.
@@honoryourdna8897 Trey, I also wanted to ask you; I recently took up gravestone cleaning myself, and among a couple of others, you have taught me some valuable tips in doing so; but I wanted to ask you: you said in this video that using D2 on these bronze pieces wasn't necessary, but tell me, would going ahead and using it anyway, especially if the plaque looks like it could use it, actually do any damage to it? I can't think that it would, but I wanted to ask your opinion anyway. Thank you for teaching me useful tips for my own journey into stone cleaning! :-)
Rock on Guy, love ya for what you are doing. AS a Black Naval Vet, you have no idea what that meant to see you this morning on the Kelly and Ryan show showing what you are out there doing. What better way to heal this country after all the racial divide we have been going through lately. God Bless You Sir!
I just found your video and it brought me to tears. I am an 8th generation South Carolinian and started doing my family history about 20 years ago, in that search I discovered that I had ancestors that fought in the revolutionary war, civil war and both WW....I have found their graves over the years and tried to honor them. In my search I have come across other veterans that I am assuming family members have passed on or moved away and their stones have been neglected. I have cleaned some just using water and a soft brush, it is an honor to discover these ancestors and find their resting place...thank you sir for what you are doing here.
You're welcome Pamela. Together, we will remember each and every one of them with a clean headstone by Memorial Day. It should not matter that the veteran no longer has any family members who remember him, or her. The entire population of America should remember them, and honor them. I cleaned a WWII Soldier's headstone this week and it was in such neglected shape. His birth and death dates were covered by dirt. When I scraped off the dirt, his death date was August 6, 1944. The 20 year old had landed at Utah Beach during the invasion of Normandy and was Killed In Action 8 weeks later. And there he was a forgotten hero in his own hometown. I got him ready by Memorial Day!
You are to be commended for your noble work and respect 0f our Veterans. AS an 89 year old veteran,I thank you.
Thank you for this, Sir. I've been compelled to clean my own fathers grave. His name is Randy Robinson and he served in the Air Force. He passed in '91 and I don't think it's ever been treated. Thank you for this knowledge.
God bless your father. I appreciate his service from which I benefit. Please tell your father's story of military service at VeteranGraves.com
As someone who buried a retired, army veteran father and Marine veteran husband, one at 54 and the other at 37, it touches my heart to see the care with which you have honored these men and women who served. God bless you sir.
I grew up in awe of a grandfather who landed at Utah Beach and fought his way across Europe to victory. His two Purple Hearts, Bronze Star, and 2-hour routine each night just to fall asleep enabled me to comprehend the cost of freedom at a very young age. My grandmother's brother was killed in action during the Battle of the Atlantic. I assumed everyone understood the gravity of what our military men and women have done, and continue to do. Unfortunately, we have a long way to go when it comes to educating the next generations about why they are so fortunate to live in a country where they have no fears when they go to bed at night.
@@honoryourdna8897 hi
@@honoryourdna8897HI again young people don't have a clue. Most don't anyway
Like the prior marble stone restoration......another noble & magnanimous gesture to pay respect due this Honorable Veteran.
Thank you for caring for the markers that establish individuals as veterans who served our country. God bless you!
You're welcome! I hope you will join us by cleaning veteran headstones in your local cemeteries. Register at VeteranGraves.com
Thank you for doing this. It is a great labor of love and honor for men and women who served this country.
Thanks for doing this for our fallen soldiers. My grandfather was killed in Normandy when my father was 16 months old and unfortunately we didn't get to know him but are proud to know how he fought for our country. We have always been very loyal to all memorials and his name is on the wall in Bedford va and the memorial there and have him in our local memorial building here and very proud to be his child and grandchildren. Thank you for all you do it is not gone unnoticed!!
I am grateful for your grandfather. We owe a debt to these men and women we simply cannot pay, except to genuinely honor them. It seems to me keeping their headstones clean is the least we can do to show our respect to the veterans and their family members who visit their graves.
All my respect for your family. Friendly from Paris.
My dad was a WWII veteran. He also was born onChristmas Day. He was wounded on Okinawa. He was my hero.
Johnson was born on Christmas Day, fought for his Country, and lived to be 62---amazing!
As a 'Nam era vet,I want to personally thank you for your services.Far too many people have no conception of what it is like basically signing your life away.These men deserve respect.You sir,are an Exemplary example of TRUE patriotism.Thank you, & God Bless!
As a Nam era vet, you should watch my video Arlington vs Hometown Burial 100th Anniversary Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Thank you for serving my country... and me. ❤️ 🇺🇸
~ Daughter of a WW2 veteran
Thank you so very much for showing this veteran respect! I love what you are doing. My dad served in World War I and has a bronze marker as well.
The grass would have grown over the stone and no one would know there was a grave there! God bless you for doing what you did.
Thank you for honoring our veterans ❤️.
The world would be a far better place if everyone was like you Sir. Much love from the Uk to you.
I came from the UK 400 years ago.
Great job Trae. Hopefully someone will take care of my grave one day as good as you're doing for those soldiers. -Sgt Adam Raymond US Army (95b)
That's the plan Adam! Eventually we will have a Volunteer assigned to each veteran grave and track the maintenance of each grave, including each time the grave flag is replaced.
Very nice of you to remember the women who served. My friend was a nurse in WWII in England caring for our boys. She is a spry 101 years young God bless her.
Thank you for honoring America’s heroes with your service!
I just lost my grandpa a little over a year ago (97), he was a SGT in the Army during WII thank you so much for cleaning his grave marker
Congratulations on your work. I have a hard time doing my father's but the cemetery has helped. It's hard as we get older. My Dad was a Jedburgh in ww2.
Thank you! This was a great tutorial! I have just received my D2 and looking forward to honoring those in the local cemetery
There is something rather cathartic about seeing this. I can imagine their families, and other visitors can appreciate the gesture, and hopefully the veterans can feel the love and respect. I can imagine this work could make a lot of troubled souls sleep better at the end of a day, perhaps some judges will allow this as community service project. Perhaps helping beautify living veteran's homes as well.
Amazing way to show respect for our veterans
I wish people would do this where my husband is buried. Hubby, Lt. Col., died in service and my Father (USAF, Ret.) are both at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Albuquerque. I’m in Virginia. Thank God for people like you. God bless you for doing this. I’m going to check into doing this locally.
My great-grandfather was a polish soldier in ww2 and was a pow and was freed and liberated to Scotland and ended up in South East London so u sir a honor to all the people who have served love from the UK
As a vets daughter, I thank you 🥺
How would you like to test positive for my phone number...you gorgeous creature.
My husband's a USA navy veteran I want to thank you for doing this, these brave men and women served to protect others they deserve this respect.
You gave great care and attention to this grave marker. You are a good man, his family, if alive would be truly proud. If only we had such respect for our veterans in the UK.
My veteran headstone videos are being watched by people all over the world, including the UK, so hopefully you will see this movement gain momentum in the UK too.
I am 8 years old butt this made me cry I am proud of you
You must be quite a patriotic young lady to be watching veteran headstone cleaning videos.
Along with those who gave their lives, you are also a hero.
Thank you for providing this thoughtful service. I hope others will follow your lead. My mother worked in Ottawa, for the British Admiralty. She was awarded the MBE for her service.
My grandfather passed away this January and he thought in the Air force . thank you for helping a special veteran out
My uncle Pat Blessing just passed 4 days ago and he was a veteran of the Vietnam war. He was highly decorated and a very brave man. He is to be laid to rest in Quantico National Cemetery. You sir are a just kind hearted and honest human being doing an amazing job. My heart is broken after losing my uncle Pat and I am in tears watching this video. God bless you sir.
That D/2 works crazy good! My Dad is buried in a National Cemetery that is extremely well maintained. I have 4 cemeteries near me that I will begin to identify Veterans that are buried within them and those needing to be restored to their original glory. Thank you for what you're doing for our Veterans 🙏🏼
Where do you buy D2? Who makes it?
@@catherineturner3174 The guy from the video, he gives 10% off with a coupon code.
This is such a wholesome and wonderful thing to do Who ever his family was and all the others you did im sure their very grateful for the recognition!
I'm Canadian. God bless you . Should be more people like you in this world!
My Uncle's grave marker says WWII army, Canada. But he was American.
May we always be brothers and sisters.
@@maggienbob1304 Canada declared war on Germany in 1939. The USA declared war on Germany four days after the Pearl Harbour attack in late 1941. Many Americans joined the Canadian military to fight "early". The same happened during WW1 as well.
@@boxwoodgreen Thank you for that. I had no idea, so much I don't know really. Don't know why, but your comment brought a tear to my eye. I think it's just knowing and understanding a little more about him. Thanks again.
@@maggienbob1304 Teary coincidence 1of 2.Years ago I read a book by HW McBride, an American Army Officer ( Colonel I think), and Scout who resigned his commission to come to Canada to enlist for WW1 as a sniper, and machine gunner. He was very precise about locations. Scouting alone on the morning of June 13, 1916 Sgt. McBride he writes, climbed up a railway berm that looked onto the the infamous Hill 60 at Ypres, Belgium. There, Canadian trenches crossed in front of the hill held by the Germans. And then he records the start of a barrage of Minenwerfers, garbage can sized German mines shot up in the air to come down at a steep angle. Slow enough for Sgt McBride to watch each one fall. One came down in a trench where in the tight space it killed a dozen+ Canadian soldiers of the 7th Battalion British Columbia Regiment. One of whom was my great uncle James. James now rests a mile north with his comrades in Railway Dugouts Commonwealth War Cemetery at VI-D-17. A brave American volunteer risking all, saw it happen, and recorded it for my family.
@@boxwoodgreen I did not know this. Thanks for enlightening me.
This is a wonderful way to honor our veterans. Thank you. ❤
Thank you sir for honoring our veterans and so lovingly cleaning their gravesite!!
I love everything about this. The goal, the effort, the sounds, the satisfaction of a clean stone.. Perfect video
As a British veteran I thank you for honouring those who went before us. God Bless
I take care of about a half dozen veteran plaques. I agree, it is an honor to take care of my fellow veterans. Semper Fi to all my Brothers and Sisters.
Thank you for cleaning the marker , My dad was a WW2 vet, He was born in 1918 too!
You should be very proud of your dad.
Thank you Sir for your service 🇺🇸
@HonorYourDna To clean the bronze there is a cleaner known as Bar Keeper's Friend, which will clean the bronze without scratching it. You can find it in grocery store isle next to comet and Ajax. It cleans bronze, copper, and many metals.
Thank you for looking after the Veterans! My Parents are buried out at our local Veterans Cemetery here in Arizona. It's only 10min from our home so we get out there often. We've always cleaned Dad's stone , now that Mama's joined him we still do. Dad was also born in 1918. He was in Italy in WWII, M Co! He went all the way to the Alps from the bottom of Italy up. He was part of the Monument Men in the Alps finding paintings and sculptures hidden in a Castle up there.
Because of your brave father, my family and I are able to live wonderful lives of freedom and security. Thank you.
I have read several books about those Monument Men. It was thrilling to learn how dangerous their rescue missions were. Thank God for all the men and women who were and may still be actively involved.
Wow! What a history your father had. You honor him and your mother by taking care of them! Bless you!
Wow!
Wow! How great to be that part of our history!👍❤️🇺🇲
Looks great and thank you for all your hard work & dedication to our deceased veterans.
Trae, you are awesome to be taking care of veteran's headstones. Thank you so much! My dad is a WWII army veteran and he has the bronze marker, joint with my mom's. They've been gone now nearly 30 years and I've never used anything but water to clean it. But it is tarnished and I do plan on shining it, then putting a clear glaze. You inspired me to buy some D/2 Biological Solution. Not cheap but it sure does a great job.
D/2 is really good stuff. I've visited some of the headstones I cleaned more than a year ago and they are still perfectly clean.
What a wonderful thing you're doing,brought tears to my eyes. I just got back from cleaning off my Dad's flat stone.Gof continue to bless you
It's truly a great feeling to know there are people like you in the world who care deeply enough to honor your dad with a respectable grave marker. Neglected veteran headstones doesn't mean people don't care, they just don't know. That's why I'm so confident we're going to get all the veteran headstones cleaned once word gets around.
Is it safe to add Vinegar and salt, to restore the original color? Thanks!
@@sheilahtaylor3005 I live on saltwater and know that salt corrodes metal, so I would never apply salt to a metal grave marker. I think restoring a bronze veteran grave marker is beyond the scope of what a Volunteer should take upon themselves to do. I would just wash and rinse with clean water. Eventually, I plan to produce a video about how to restore a bronze grave marker, but I don't know when that might happen.
@@honoryourdna8897 thank you DO much, I was nervous about using the salt. I will WAIT for your video, however long it takes. I trust you. My Dad was a ww ll vet. Thanks
@@honoryourdna8897 noted and will follow your instructions. Thanks again
Thank you brother. I found you as I was researching my Father’s grave marker. He was a Captain in Vietnam
Was an Infantry Captain? If so, that is a very big deal in combat. In the Civil War, the Captains led from in the front their Company of 50-110 men directly into the face of the enemy.
It's in my bucket to clean up my Dad's grave marker cleaned up before I go. He was in WW11 and Korean War. Thank you for posting, I've gotten some ideas.
Thank you so much for cleaning this veteran tombstone and it break my heart to see what happened to them over the years.
Hello Honor Your DNA, I appreciate your reply. I occasionally drive past a large cemetery in London, Ontario and can see the veterans' section. I always say a silent thank you to all those interred there. We all owe our service personnel so much. In Canada, we have Remembrance Day on November 11 and services are held at cenotaphs throughout the country. Sadly, people return to their daily lives the following day and most forget! When I see the war cemeteries at Normandy and the thousands of stones at the graves of Americans, Canadians and British military personnel, I realize that all veterans, alive and deceased, need to be honoured and remembered YEAR ROUND, not just one day a year. I know that your efforts in cleaning memorials is appreciated by so many. Thank you. Regards, Bob in Ontario, Canada
Thanks for cleaning my great great grandpa
What a kind & respectful act for you to clean a strangers grave marker.
Also to teach others how to do it. I try to keep my loved ones grave markers clean but never knew how to clean the cement so I was glad to
Watch how you cleaned it.
Again, Thank You.!
Great job and thank you for what you're doing for the men and women who served our country.
Thank you so much for doing this for our fallen Heros. God Bless our Troops💕
I thank you for your respect of our veterans. Too few do. My Dad, a WWII. Veteran and Ex-POW is in a private mausoleum, but I will do this for others. Thanks!
Neglected graves are a shameful sight, BIG thank you for your hard work.
Thank you for this video. I searched how to clean my grandfather's (also a WWII vet) grave marker, so this was brilliant! Also noticed how when all the grass was pushed back, the sun began to shine through, then again with each step of cleaning. Very touching watching you honor this vet.
Thank you for doing this and honoring our Veterans.
As a son of a Vietnam veteran I want to Thank You for doing this! Also, thank you for the video, as I have been wondering how to clean my Dad's marker and my family members that served! God Bless You and zGod Bless America! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Still working on the math for 3 grandfathers. I had one in WWI, and one in WWII, my father and his able brothers served as well, along with most of the males on both sides of my family. What you are doing is honourable, so I thank you from my heart. I involve myself with veterans' groups as often as possible. This idea is simple but monumental, it can be done without checking schedules or making appointments, and it can be done nearly anonymously. I plan to take this on in my area. Stay well, Cheers!
My mom's dad landed at Utah Beach. My dad's dad was on a ship in route to Pearl Harbor from California on December 7, 1941. One of my four great grandfathers was a Flying Sergeant and Flew the Hump. Those are my three WWII grandfathers. The idea truly is simple, but it's not as easy as it might seem to get people's attention and them actually get their hands on a veteran headstone. I'll go to the end of the earth to honor a veteran by cleaning his headstone, and I have, but unfortunately it's just too much effort for the majority of Americans to clean a veteran headstone in their local cemetery. I hope to be able to make this a priority in people's lives.
My maternal grandfather was in Sicily and the invasion of Italy. Because of my mother, I know one of the pilots that got into the air at Pearl. I've walked among fields of markers, not only stateside, but in Europe as well. I been to the Tomb of the Unknowns, run my fingers down the Vietnam wall, and numerous other memorials. Despite the tragedies, all are remembered. These dirty, overgrown, forgotten stones are more tragic than their reasons for being. People need to remember that our Veterans are people's are grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren to someone, but they may not have anyone left to remember. Of the people I spoke of in my family, only one remains among us.
People shout "we will never forget," but already have.
May they put their money where their mouths are.
@@O.L.D_RC I love this comment! May I share it?
Certainly! Thank you.
@@O.L.D_RC Thank you!
I always did love walking around a cemetery, I was calming to me and I tried to find the oldest stone and the newest stone. Maybe I’ll start doing this too.
It’s people like you that make me happy to live here. God bless these people
I lightly sprayed my families headstones with spraying WD40 on it and using a soft lint free rag , I also use Q tips to get the letters cleaned. . Thank you Sir for taking your time and effort to clean the Veterans headstones. My husband served in Vietnam War US NAVY 1968.
I appreciate you and everyone who still honors our country's loved ones. A lot of ppl can't come to take care of graves. I love going to cemeteries besides cleaning n flowers I also love to take photos n post them on cemetery websites so they will able to be found by family and veterans. To me this is truly a beautiful act of love y'all are doing. Thank you bunches!
Thank you for your kind words of support. I've been visiting veteran graves in Utah and I can report the people of Utah do a fantastic job of paying perpetual respect to their veterans. We have much work to do, but there are many Americans who appreciate the cost of freedom. They will take on the job of maintaining a veteran's grave if they become aware of the neglect. We just have to ring the bell as loud as we can.
😂❤
I've been doing this for so many years I've lost track of how long I've been doing it lol I've probably been to over half dozen cemeteries,clean family's places up put flowers 💐 on there sites, water othe people's flowers 💐 in the cemeteries with 3 50ft hoses. It's really satisfying to do this for people, ive even recently fixed someone's concrete urn on there family's grave...
God bless you and your family.
Actually, there's a little more you can do for him. A cordless drill, buffing wheel, bronze polish and a premium spray glaze will refurbish his marker to about 98% of its original feature. You're a good man!
And creating a more uniform edge around the base would be nice.
Or possibly some Flitz polish? That stuff works wonders!
Id support the go fund me
He is cleaning them properly, using power tools, etc...will do damage to headstones.
He probably had to receive permission from the cemetery to do what you saw. Doing anything to the bronze marker would probably require explicit permission from the family.
Thank you for cleaning this marker. My dad is buried 4 hours away and I want to go and clean his marker. I also want to paint the wording and dates in gold. Thank you for teaching me how to clean the marker.
I often sit around trying to think of projects. This Is It!
Thank you for doing what you do.it looks beautiful!
Thank you so much for this beautiful act of love and patriotism.
👍👍🔥🙏🙏
What an outstanding idea to remember those of the greatest generation. Thank you. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
You know this man takes this serious when he brings out a pair of scissors to trim the edges of the marker to ensure grass isn’t touching the man’s grave stone. Amazing!
You’re an asset to the veteran community. Thank you so much.
I have been working on my family memorials this week - my father was in WWII, Omaha Beach landing. His marker talks about his life after the war (he was an educator, husband and father), but a veteran he remains (and many others are the same I am sure). Thank you for what you do ❤️. I tried Barry’s kit and it worked fine, but the vinegar, salt, flour combo was great!
One great service to fellow human.....bless your heart ❤️ 💙 💜
Thank you for this! All of my grandpas were veterans, and only 2 of them are buried right here where I live. Their graves look JUST like this and I've been so afraid to try and clean them because I don't want to make them worse. Thank you for this, when the weather cools down [i'm in las vegas] I'll have to try this out on them!
Beautiful job! My Paw Paw has a bronze grave headstone & I really want to try & go fix it up after seeing the condition of it on Find A Grave. Unfortunately I live out if state from his grave site, but I am making it a goal to go out there & fix it up. This video is very helpful! Thank you so much! ❤
Your Paw Paw is a fortunate man to have you. My vision is to have each veteran's grave documented on VeteranGraves.com and a Volunteer assigned to each veteran's grave to provide annual routine care. If I'm successful, there will soon be a Volunteer assigned to your Paw Paw's veteran grave. If you care for a veteran grave in your local cemetery, someone else living near Paw Paw's grave will do the same. Register as a Volunteer at VeteranGraves.com.
As a Marine Corps veteran, this warms my heart, thank you Sir, much respect 🇺🇸 Semper Fi
We're going to teach Americans, one at a time, that a veteran headstone in distress is no different than the American flag in distress. We must stop whatever we are doing and tend to the flag, or veteran headstone, in need of care and attention.
Thank you for showing this! My ex-husband’s grandfather is buried very close to where I live. He was a WWII vet, and every Memorial Day I visit his grave and place some flowers and try to clean it up. I missed going last year due to family obligations, but the year before it looked pretty bad and it looked like one corner was sinking. This year I’m going to go and try to dig around it like you just did here. 🇺🇸
Looks like you have a Corgi. I do too. I respect you for visiting your grandfather-in-law's grave.
You are an amazing man, thank you for all you do.
Thank you for doing this, Trae! I clean grave markers, too, and I always learn from your videos. Currently making sure family members have markers for their graves, starting with two great-uncles who were WW1 heroes. One has already been placed and the other one is in process. Like the PVC pipe flag holder idea. Will imitate!
I love what you are doing with making sure family members have markers for their graves. I've found several unmarked veteran graves despite the fact veteran headstones are furnished by the National Cemetery Administration free of charge. Someone who cares has to complete the application and make sure the stone is placed at the veteran's grave. I recently ordered a headstone for a family member who died a Prisoner of War in Louisville, KY in 1863. He was lost to our family for 157 years.
The PVC flag idea is nice but many cemeteries prohibit "planting" anything in the ground as the cemeteries' lawn mowing equipment would get damaged and/or the PVC pipe/flag would get destroyed. Urns are okay because the mowers go around them. Thank you for cleaning these veterans' grave stones.
Thank you sir !! for taking the time to honor our veterans Job well done! and thank you for your service!! From a proud Vietnam era vet and proud American Legionnaire!🙂👍👏
Thanks Rudolph! American Legion is fantastic. I think it would be great for the National leader of the American Legion to support this cause and spread the word internally to all members. I am a member too! I recently visited a cemetery in North Florida where I found dozens of veteran headstones, many from the Civil War both Northern and Southern, all covered in nasty algae. Literally directly across the street was an American Legion Post. Not sure why not a single member looked across the street to see the neglected veteran headstones that fell into disrepair right under the noses of the American Legion. The American Legion has done an amazing job. I've read several newspaper articles from where a Post provided full military honors to WWII soldiers coming home for burial. Rallying their local community members to help clean veteran headstones seems like a great fit for an American Legion Post.
Great video on cleaning the veterans markers. Unfortunately, in my area in New England, most of the older veterans markers are being 'swallowed' up by the ground. In some cases they are being covered summer after summer with grass clippings that turn to dirt and slowly 'sink' and hide the marker, Many more have one sunken edge or side that makes them uneven to the ground. Over the years, I have asked the cemetery caretakers to bring the markers back up to level but that does not seem to get done. Even in the veterans section of the cemetery, the stones are half sunken and in need of cleaning. I try to take care of the few dozen family stones and markers but it is a shame to see so many others in such disrepair.
You are "spot on" Vin Ferrante! I have asked the National Cemetery Administration to produce a protocol for setting veteran headstones and grave markers. First, we get Volunteers active cleaning veteran headstones. Second, we reset veteran headstones and grave markers that are sunken, leaning, fallen, or out of sight. Third, we order veteran headstones for our veterans currently resting in unmarked graves. We will get there, slowly but surely. I believe there are sufficient numbers of good people who will answer this call.
I love the work you are doing. Thank you so much for your dedication. I have always wanted to do this, but the cleaner is expensive. I can’t afford it. Thank you for your time and hard work to give respect to our veterans.
My husband and i live in Germany for 4yrs during his tour in the Army, i visited German's cemetery's and is incredible how beautiful and how much care the German people have for their dead one's.
But most cemeteries in Germany do not have long dead burials. In most cemeteries in Germany, they lease a plot for a period of time (usually 15-30 years). The lease can be renewed, but if it isn’t, a new person can be buried in that grave. The old remains, if any, are simply buried deeper in most cases (and the prior names and dates are removed).