"Why should we clean gravestones? To preserve the past.

We want not only to honor our ancestors but also to remove lichen and dirt from the stones so the information on them can be read and preserved.

Gravestones and monuments are irreplaceable historic artifacts bequeathed to us by our ancestors to be cared for in perpetuity."

The sentences above came from a document created by Colchester County (CT) Historical Society titled "Why are we doing this anyway?"

Cleaning old gravestones has become a popular project for organizations interested in historic preservation. Taking on this noble mission requires one to "do no harm" and use correct products and methods. The photos here clearly show the before, during and after conditions of a veteran's gravestone recently cleaned by members of the Captain Robert Orr DAR Chapter (Brainerd, MN).

Read more about how to undertake gravestone restoration in this fact-filled article.