The respect they deserve: Grave restoration honors North Salem's Revolutionary War veterans

NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - This year’s cemetery restoration work in North Salem is focused on the graves of the 46 Revolutionary War veterans buried in June, Mills Road, Cat Ridge, and Peach Pond cemeteries. It seemed an appropriate time to honor those who fought for our independence.

John Griffin of Griffin Gravestone Conservation is doing the work. Recently, Town Board member Katherine Daniels and I stopped by June Cemetery to check on John’s progress and received a short course in gravestone restoration and protocol.

Each soldier’s grave—including those of veterans who served in all of our nation’s wars—has a white marble marker level with the ground. These markers were obtained from the VA by Superintendent of Cemeteries Richard Yakman beginning in the 1970s. Most graves also have their original upright engraved tablets. All needed to be cleaned, many required complicated repairs, and some posed new research questions for me and the trustees of the Historical Society. Some tablets were buried, broken, or illegible, with the carvings worn away. Gravestone restoration, when done properly, is slow, respectful, painstaking work—and very rewarding.

Griffin plans to complete his work well in advance of July 4. Stop by one of the cemeteries and contemplate the lives of these brave men. The North Salem Historical Society introduced many of them and shared their stories at North Salem’s 1776 celebration on June 20. The graves are easy to find because CFFD member Gary Weber makes sure every veteran’s resting place is marked with an American flag.