Decoration Day 1868

10/17/2026

10/16/2026

This past Saturday, Richard Donohue represented Decoration Day 1868 at the Poage Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Ashland, Kentucky, to discuss caring for historic gravestones.

Topics included granite, marble, and limestone; Endurance and D/2 cleaners; choosing brushes and when to avoid brushing; and spray application versus scrubbing. Display items helped illustrate the discussion.

Thank you to the ladies of the Poage Chapter for the warm welcome and your interest in preserving the markers and stories of generations past!

10/16/2026

I spent a few minutes today at Dayton National Cemetery.
You will find over 60 thousand graves of veterans there.
Decoration Day 1868 has been approved to apply grave stone cleaner on Veteran white marble gravestones.
The first sections Decoration Day 1868 will be sections 3,4,5,6,8,9,10 and 11. An estimated 5,000 plus soldiers are buried in those sections.
It will be an honor to volunteer there and pay tribute to those soldiers buried there.
Thank you to the staff for allowing Decoration Day 1868 to work in the cemetery.

10/14/2026

A few weeks ago, I noticed a company advertising nationwide headstone cleaning services on Facebook. Yesterday, I encountered a worker who said he was working for that company, applying a bleach-containing cleaner to a historic white marble headstone.

With his permission, we checked the label. I noticed a sodium ingredient listed first, and the historian with me pointed out the bleach. The worker explained that the company had recommended the product. When we raised our concerns, he stopped and apologized. I appreciate his willingness to listen.

The National Park Service warns against using bleach—including sodium hypochlorite—on marble headstones. These cleaners can leave soluble salts that weaken the marble, causing powdering and surface loss over time.

Companies offering gravestone cleaning services have a responsibility to provide proper preservation training. Before hiring someone, ask about their experience, products, methods, and permission to work in the cemetery. An online advertisement alone does not establish expertise.

Our loved ones’ memorials deserve careful, informed care.

The images used here was from Justin Frost of Past Preservation based in Michigan. Justin’s cleaning occurred long after the damage was done. Past preservation is one of those companies that’s reputable and do a great job preserving gravestones.

10/14/2026

Today, Decoration Day 1868 returned to historic Odd Fellows Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee, to continue our gravestone preservation efforts.

We spent about an hour and a half applying approximately six gallons of Endurance Gravestone Cleaner. Starting at the street corner near the historical marker, we worked through the area bordered by the three street corners, extending up to the walking path that crosses the center of the cemetery. The blue route in the accompanying image shows where we walked during our visit.

Earlier this summer, we visited during a seminar led by Jonathan Appel of Atlas Preservation and treated a few gravestones. Today’s visit gave us an opportunity to continue that work.

According to the historical marker, Odd Fellows Cemetery was established in 1880 by the Banner Lodge Chapter of the Odd Fellows Fraternal Order. It was expanded by the Daughters of Zion in 1881, the Good Samaritans in 1884, and the Silver Moon Chapter of the Odd Fellows in 1885. It is the final resting place of many of Knoxville’s early Black preachers, political figures, educators, business pioneers, and community leaders.

We are honored to help care for these markers and preserve the memory of those who helped shape Knoxville’s history.

10/14/2026

Decoration Day 1868 would like to thank Keith Kundtz and the City of Reynoldsburg for welcoming us to Seceder Cemetery and allowing us to help care for its gravestones.

This afternoon, we spent approximately an hour and a half applying nine gallons of Endurance Gravestone Cleaner to all the stones in this section.

Over the next few months, we hope to see a noticeable improvement as the cleaner continues to work, revealing more of the stones’ original appearance and inscriptions.

We appreciate the opportunity to help preserve this cemetery and honor the memory of those buried here.

10/13/2026

Honoring Colonel Thomas Gibson, Ohio’s First State Auditor

Earlier this spring, a marble gravestone was placed at Colonel Thomas Gibson’s previously unmarked grave. At the time, we were unaware that the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) had already made plans to install a granite marker in his honor.

The marble gravestone was later removed, and the SAR’s granite marker was installed at his grave.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Ross County Historical Society for accepting the marble gravestone and helping preserve its purpose as a tribute to Ohio’s first state auditor.

Working with Jon Purdum of the historical center, a location was found at Grandview Cemetery in Chillicothe, Ohio, beside the grave of Ohio’s first secretary of state. The marble stone was placed there in memory and honor of Colonel Gibson.

We are grateful to everyone who helped ensure that Colonel Gibson’s life and service continue to be remembered.

10/13/2026

The five-year-old son of Frederick and Nancy Williamson Norton grave Thomas Norton has his own gravestone now.
 Thomas born in 1852 and died in 1857 grave has been unmarked for nearly 130 years. A few weeks ago while working on his brother Charlie’s Stone the research uncovered that Thomas was buried alongside his brother Charlie.
 You will find Charles and Thomas Stone in section 7 lot 123 located in Woodland Cemetery Ironton Lawrence County Ohio.

10/13/2026

George Hilgenberg the son of John and Catherine Hilgenberg’s grave is now marked.
138 years ago young George drowned while swimming in the Ohio River.
His grave is now marked with is own grave stone. The location of his lot marker was found and his new stone rest against the lot marker.

10/13/2026

Husband and wife’s grave goes unmarked for over 120 years.
John and Catherine Hilgenberg’s grave is now marked.
Great job to the staff of today and the staff of yesterday for their hard work. Lot marker in place and easy to locate lot 150 in section 4.