How to safely clean tombstones with the ‘Sons of the Union Veterans’ presentation tonight at SCHGS meeting
Pvt. John N. Eckes Camp 10
Sumner Newscow report – The Sumner County Historical and Genealogical Society, Wellington, will host “How to Safely Clean Tombstones with The Sons of the Union Veterans” presented by Joe Chrisman, Camp Commander, tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Cowley College, Short General Education Center, Room 113, 2208 Davis-White Loop, Wellington.
Everyone is invited to attend the free program. For those who would like to order a meal to take to the meeting, place an order at the Tiger Eatery, phone 620-441-6568, or arrive and order between 5:30 – 6 p.m., the Eatery closes at 6:30 p.m. For more info, visit www.ksschgs.com or contact the SCHGS at 620-440-4245 on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. After hours: Jane at 620-447-3266 or Sherry at 316-833-6161.
Along with the presentation at the college, Chrisman said that one of the members would be bringing a Civil War musket and other artifacts. If the weather permits, there will be a hands-on demonstration after the meeting at the Prairie Lawn Cemetery.
According to the soldier’s memoirs and the stories passed down in the Chrisman family, Joe Chrisman’s gr-gr-grandfather, Isaac Chrisman, of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, fired the shot that killed General Felix Zollicoffer, the first general killed in the Civil War, at the battle of Mill Springs in January 1862.
Chrisman is an original charter member of Winfield’s Private John N. Eckes, Camp # 10, chartered on February 25th, 2001, and is the newest SUVCW camp in Kansas.
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was formed to aid Union veterans and was organized on November 12, 1881, and chartered by Congress on August 20, 1954.
“The SUVCW is the legal heir to the Grand Army of the Republic,” said Chrisman.
After serving as sexton for the city of Winfield’s three cemeteries, Highland, Union-Graham, and St. Mary’s for twenty-six years, Chrisman now shares his expertise and works with other SUVCW members to clean, repair, and reset veterans’ tombstones in Cowley County cemeteries. They also participate in the “Wreaths Across America” project in December and work with Boy Scout troops and teach others how to safely clean and care for tombstones.
“We go out and clean headstones, especially those of the veterans in the cemeteries, participate in flag day services, and Veteran’s Day services,” Chrisman said, “any chance that we can, we get out in the cemetery.”
“The first rule of tombstone cleaning,” Chrisman said, “is “do no harm”.
“I’ve got 2 or 3 different methods for cleaning tombstones,” Chrisman said, adding that he will share their methods with program attendees and detail what cleaning products and types of brushes are safe to use.
“D2 is the only product that is used at Arlington National Cemetery,” Chrisman said, adding that it works to remove algae, lichen, and mold. Chrisman said that he mixes it 50-50 with water and then sprays it liberally onto lichen and algae-covered stones, often leaving it to do its work over several months.
Chrisman said that some of the products that you should never use on tombstones are: Dawn dish soap, shaving cream, bleach, and chalk, as these can damage the ‘skin’ on a stone.
“Stone develops a ‘skin,’” Chrisman said, “if you damage the skin, you will damage the stone eventually.”
After spraying D2 on an old, white, unreadable marble tablet at the Union-Graham Cemetery, Chrisman shared that it was clean and readable three months later.
“I was at the cemetery on Memorial Day weekend, and this elderly gentleman came walking up to me and asked if I had put something on this stone,” Chrisman said, “he had tears in his eyes, and he said that it was the first time in his life that he was able to read the stone for his gr-great-grandmother.”
Chrisman’s advice for those having difficulty reading the names and dates on older stones is to use safe products to clean the stone and then use a handheld mirror to reflect light onto the stone, take a photograph, and enlarge the photo on the computer.
Chrisman said that qualifications for joining the SUVCW fraternal organization: 1. a male descendant of a Union veteran or 2. an associate, a male who is not a direct descendant but is someone who has a genuine interest in the Civil War. The organization also offers both descendant and associate junior memberships for boys between the ages of six and fourteen. Chrisman said that all four groups are permitted within the Department of Kansas and by all camps in the Department. For more information about membership: https://suvcwks.org/join-the-suvcw/.
Chrisman said that the Private John N. Eckes Camp # 10 meets at 7 p.m. at the Cowley County Historical Society building every third Thursday, except for June, July, and December. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Camp10SUVCW/.
“I do a lot of research on the veterans that are buried in our cemetery,” Chrisman said, “the main thing is keeping green the memory of the men who wore blue.”
