The restoration of the Soldiers Lot, which was begun last year, is showing fine results. Over one hundred white marble headstones have been cleaned and reset on new concrete foundations.
Click here for photos of the work during earlier stages
Located on the North Ridge, the Soldiers Lot was established in 1862 and also includes a bronze monument with the names of over six hundred additional local men who died in the conflict. By Memorial Day, these white rows will be brightened by the placement of small American flags at each grave.
Hopefully, the same sort of restoration can eventually be done at the G.A.R. lot on the far end of the North Ridge. Many of the stones there are illegible and overgrown.
Click here to see the headstone of Orange Peck prior to restoration.
More on the Soldiers Lot
Looks like a great job was done with the restoration!
ReplyDeleteAs a former scout, though, I don't quite understand the placing of small stick flags at graves. It violates many sections of the US Code.
"It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness."
"The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed."
"When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground."
"The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise."
"Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both."
Small flags, if used at all, should be in flag holders. When a lot has a flagpost, there's no reason for them at all. The number of times I've seen tiny (foreign-made?) stick flags which have fallen or blown over, or in mud puddles, or ground up by lawnmowers....
Maybe the US should make headstones that incorporate flagholders?
They stones look great!
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