Chances are you have some veterans in the family. Have you thought of honoring the memory of their desire to protect our great land and the freedoms you enjoy? It's easy and I encourage all genealogy and history buffs to honor your loved ones.
My grandfathers both served America in World War I. One was in the Army and suffered from the exposure to mustard gas. Click here to read more of Charlie and his World War I experience and subsequent death. The other grandpa was in the Navy for a short stint, and died happily at an old age.
While my dad is buried in a military cemetery and has an official veterans marker, my grandfathers do not. Since my grandpas both have headstones at their final resting spot, I have not had the reason to seek honoring their military service with a government issued headstone. But wait-- can I do it now?
Just recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced a new option to honor our veterans who are buried in private (non-government) cemeteries and who have privately purchased headstones.
Now, we can honor our veterans' service to our great land with the addition of a bronze medallion to the existing headstone. For veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990, the medallion can be ordered through the VA. For more information on the medallion option, visit http://www.cem.va.gov/hm/hmtype.asp
Perhaps, the VA will soon have these medallions available for veterans who died before 1990. Wouldn't that be great?
Ahh, genealogy. Loving the past and wanting to honor my special veterans--- always and all ways.
©2010 AS Eldredge
Ahhh, genealogy. A glimpse of the past shows of what I am made.....
Showing posts with label headstones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label headstones. Show all posts
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tombstone Tuesday: Gone but Not Forgotten
Back in 2004, descendants of John Henry (1750-1838), an Irishman who came to the colonies and later fought for the colonies, gathered for a party in the St. Clair Cemetery in Allegheny Co, PA. We gathered for the dedication of two new headstones for our grandpas John Henry and James Glenn (1750-1813). Even though both of these men have been dead for many a generation, their faith still speaks to the descendants today.
Recently, my buddy, Margaret Jackson of the Historical Society of Mt Lebanon contacted me to let me know the original headstone of John Henry was located. In addition, a fieldstone with the initials J G has also been located.
So very cool.
Ahh, genealogy. It's greatly satisfying when the gone and not forgotten do something to make us think of them and their contributions to this great nation of ours. And the blood goes on and on........
©2010 AS Eldredge
Recently, my buddy, Margaret Jackson of the Historical Society of Mt Lebanon contacted me to let me know the original headstone of John Henry was located. In addition, a fieldstone with the initials J G has also been located.
Ahh, genealogy. It's greatly satisfying when the gone and not forgotten do something to make us think of them and their contributions to this great nation of ours. And the blood goes on and on........
©2010 AS Eldredge
Friday, July 10, 2009
St Clair Cemetery Has More Loving Hands Working to Remember the Fallen
I just love St. Clair Cemetery in Mt. Lebanon in Allegheny Co, PA. Of course I do. The majority of its residents are names that easily fall off my tongue and share my blood.
Last night, I received a phone call from a dad of a Boy Scout who has decided to donate some time in getting new headstones for some of the American patriots at St. Clair Cemetery. This has been done before by another Boy Scout and, of course, by me.
The dad asked if I would be able to assist him with information on some of the patriots of St. Clair and in locating family members. Well, the majority of the names he mentioned were my family. If I am not of direct blood, then chances are I know who is.
The earliest known burial in St. Clair Cemetery was in 1806, if I remember correctly. I know my first family member, a grandma, was buried there in 1807. The names of the residents there echo the early history of the area.
Over the years, I've found many cousins through the St. Clair Cemetery. I've been there several times and hosted parties for my kin, living and dead, at the cemetery. My roots are there and I feel so at home and connected to family when I am there. On our last trip there, one of my children helped to uncover an old headstone. Of course, it was one of our cousins.
Anyway, I am going to dig up my ole partial map of the cemetery as this dad tells me he would like to make a new map of the cemetery. Be still, my heart! That is a project I have been hoping someone up there in Pennsylvania would undertake. I also hope to have ground radar used one day to accurately locate how many graves are there and how deep they go. My great aunt told me that we were buried several deep in our plots.
My friendly words of wisdom today are to take time to adopt an old cemetery. It may be your family cemetery or one in your local area that needs some loving hands. Research the families in it. You just may learn something really fun.
In my case, bring on the continuing work at St. Clair. My thanks to the many hours that Margaret Jackson and Mark Hughey have so lovingly given to the early settlers of Lower St. Clair. Know I am always with you in spirit.
Last night, I received a phone call from a dad of a Boy Scout who has decided to donate some time in getting new headstones for some of the American patriots at St. Clair Cemetery. This has been done before by another Boy Scout and, of course, by me.
The dad asked if I would be able to assist him with information on some of the patriots of St. Clair and in locating family members. Well, the majority of the names he mentioned were my family. If I am not of direct blood, then chances are I know who is.
The earliest known burial in St. Clair Cemetery was in 1806, if I remember correctly. I know my first family member, a grandma, was buried there in 1807. The names of the residents there echo the early history of the area.
Over the years, I've found many cousins through the St. Clair Cemetery. I've been there several times and hosted parties for my kin, living and dead, at the cemetery. My roots are there and I feel so at home and connected to family when I am there. On our last trip there, one of my children helped to uncover an old headstone. Of course, it was one of our cousins.
Anyway, I am going to dig up my ole partial map of the cemetery as this dad tells me he would like to make a new map of the cemetery. Be still, my heart! That is a project I have been hoping someone up there in Pennsylvania would undertake. I also hope to have ground radar used one day to accurately locate how many graves are there and how deep they go. My great aunt told me that we were buried several deep in our plots.
My friendly words of wisdom today are to take time to adopt an old cemetery. It may be your family cemetery or one in your local area that needs some loving hands. Research the families in it. You just may learn something really fun.
In my case, bring on the continuing work at St. Clair. My thanks to the many hours that Margaret Jackson and Mark Hughey have so lovingly given to the early settlers of Lower St. Clair. Know I am always with you in spirit.
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