Gone Graving

03/28/2026

Something big is coming.

Starting April 1st, GraveGeek Volunteers Inc. is launching a nationwide raffle—and one person will win a complete gravestone cleaning kit.

This isn’t just a giveaway. It’s everything you need to start preserving headstones the right way.
Whether you’ve been wanting to get involved, already volunteer, or simply care about protecting history, this is your opportunity to make a real impact.

In addition to our grand prize winner, we will also be selecting a second winner to receive a gallon of D/2 Biological Solution.

The prizes will be shipped directly to the winners, anywhere in the United States.
Every entry supports cemetery preservation, education, and the work we do through GraveGeek Volunteers Inc.

More details will be released on April 1st.

03/23/2026

Got two more headstones for my Eagle Scout project!

Both of these men served in Company A of the 9th New York Heavy Artillery and died of disease while in service.

I’ll be looking for volunteers, so I’ll keep everyone posted on when we plan to set these and possibly do some repairs.

These headstones will be placed in the Huron Evergreen Cemetery in Huron, NY.

03/17/2026

03/16/2026

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.

The rule people are usually referring to applies specifically to government-furnished headstones or markers. When a previously issued government marker is replaced (for example due to damage, incorrect information, or vandalism), the old government marker is not supposed to remain in use.

However, many older markers found in cemeteries — especially for Civil War, War of 1812, and Revolutionary War veterans — were privately purchased by the veteran’s family, not issued by the government. These stones are historic memorials placed by loved ones and were never government property.

To better understand how this applies in practice, we recently asked a staff member at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about a deteriorated private marker that was being replaced. We were told:

“The existing private marker is in such poor condition it did not meet VA criteria to consider it marking the grave. If the cemetery wants to leave it there to continue to deteriorate, that is up to them.”

In other words, when an old private marker has deteriorated to the point that it no longer qualifies as marking the grave, the VA may approve a government headstone. But what happens to the original private marker is ultimately up to the cemetery and the family, not the VA.

A respectful solution that many preservation groups follow is to leave the original historic marker in place and install the new government marker nearby (often behind it or facing the opposite direction). This allows us to clearly mark the veteran’s service while also preserving the historic memorial placed by their family.

These older stones are part of the history of our cemeteries and communities. Preserving them helps ensure that both the veteran’s service and the family’s original tribute are not lost to time.

The first picture is of an old VA headstone. (Not my picture)

The second picture is a screenshot of what is mentioned at the VA.gov website about destroying VA headstones that are getting replaced.

03/13/2026

My first headstone has arrived fron the VA! This is a War of 1812 veteran, who will be installed in the Huron Evergreen Cemetery in Huron, NY. I'll also be repairing his original headstone too.

03/12/2026

There's a new feature on Find a Grave! The cemetery Suggest Edits tool is similar to suggesting an edit to a memorial, but it allows members to easily suggest updates to cemetery information. You can read more about it on our blog here: https://news.findagrave.com/2026/03/04/updating-cemetery-information/

03/09/2026

Yesterday afternoon I went out to the Maple Grove Cemetery and photographed a lot of stones that didn’t have a picture on Find a Grave. I also discovered the headstones of 2 Civil War veterans that's final resting place were previously unknown. Then I finally got the chance to photograph the headstone of my 5th great grandfather, Henry Graham.

03/05/2026

03/04/2026

Join me on June 13 at 2:00 PM at the Maple Grove Cemetery for a hands-on workshop on proper gravestone cleaning and preservation.

I’ll be demonstrating:
• Safe and respectful cleaning techniques
• What products to use — and what to absolutely avoid
• How to protect older stones from long-term damage
• Basic cemetery care and stewardship tips

Whether you’re caring for family stones, interested in local history, or just want to learn how to preserve these beautiful pieces of the past, this workshop is for you.

Come ready to learn, ask questions, and help keep our history standing strong.

Hope to see you there!