Preservation Matters: Cemeteries- Resetting Upright Government-Issued Veteran's Headstone in Private Cemeteries

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The headstones and markers on the graves of America’s fallen service men and women are among the most important memorial objects that we can preserve. The National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, provides headstones to eligible Veterans at no cost to the family, among other burial benefits. They are a lasting recognition of the service and sacrifice made by military troops and their families. It is our duty as American Citizens to help care for and protect memorial objects. This document will provide guidelines for the proper setting, resetting, and care for upright headstones in private cemeteries.

Example of a stone incorrectly set in concrete.

Jason Church, NPS

Guidelines

First, always get permission from the cemetery before doing any work in the cemetery or on any memorial. There is no “Good Samaritan” rule in preservation.

The second rule is, never set or reset a government-issued headstone in concrete; they are intended to be ground supported and should remain that way. Decades of experience has proven that setting headstones in concrete (called “puddling”) or pouring concrete around a set marker (called “col-laring”) does not ensure that it will stay upright. Many factors can make an upright headstone shift, including flooding, poor drainage, shifting soils, coffin decay, burrowing animals, vandalism, and freeze-thaw. A ground supported headstone can be reset easily. A headstone set in concrete is more prone to snapping at the base, and the extra weight makes resetting difficult. A headstone cannot be separated from a concrete collar without damaging the marble or granite material. There are two basic types of upright government issues headstones that reflect different eras of military service: The “General” headstone was introduced in the 1920s to distinguish modern military service—World War I era service to the present. It measures 13” wide x 42” long x 4” thick and weighs approximately 230 pounds. Recessed shield-style headstones (used for all Veteran burials prior to the 1920s and currently used for Veterans of the Civil and Spanish-American wars) measure 10”- 13” wide x 39-42” long x 3” thick and weighs approximately 124-173 lbs., depending on size. Prior to April 1941, the headstone material was exclusively marble, since that time headstones may be provided as marble or granite. These two types of headstones should be set at different heights.

Example of tools used to reset headstones.

Jason Church, NPS

Equipment Needed

• Tarp
• Gloves
• Shovel
• Tamping iron
• Wooden 2”x4” for tamping
• Level
• Post Level
• Line level
• Mason’s string
• Stakes

Safety

Lifting equipment may or may not be needed to set these headstones. This activity should always be done with at least two people to ensure the safety of both workers and headstones. Workers should always wear gloves to protect against broken glass that is often found in cemeteries and other hazards. Steel toe boots are recommended when moving stones.

It is best to set any removed soil and sod on a tarp.

Jason Church, NPS

Preparing the Hole

When setting a new headstone, a hole should be dug slightly larger than what is needed, keeping in mind that 18” of the headstone needs to be set in the earth. Before digging, lay out a tarp to place the dirt and any sod removed; this makes it easier to put it back in the hole and helps keep the cemetery clean.

Adding sand and sharp gravel mix in an area that has poor drainage.

Jason Church, NPS

If the area where the headstone is set has good soil and proper drainage, nothing needs to be added. However, if the soil exhibits poor water drainage, dig the hole 3”-4” deeper and add a mix of sand and small sharp gravel in the bottom. Once this is added the mix must be tamped down, leaving the hole 18” deep. Now the headstone can be set into the hole.

Post levels are an easy way to monitor the stones during resetting.

Jason Church, NPS

Setting the Stone

Doublecheck: Make sure the inscription faces the proper direction, i.e., the same direction as those adjacent to it. Ensure the face of the headstone is plumb to its neighbors. The General-type headstone should be 24” above ground, from grade to top of the arch. The height of Civil War and Spanish American War headstones will vary depending on the length of the stone, keep in mind that the VA states that 18” of the stone should be set into the ground. A bubble level must be used to make sure the headstone is straight in both directions; a post level works very well for this.

Tamping around the stone for soil compaction, note the preservationist is using wood as to not damage the stone.

Jason Church, NPS

If setting multiple headstones in a section, a pipe or stake should be driven into the ground at each end of the row. A section of mason’s string should be pulled tight across the row at 24” above grade; a line level can be used to assure that the string stays level. This will help ensure that all the headstones in the row are the same height. Care should be taken that the stones are evenly set apart in a consistent manner.

The dirt that was removed should be slowly added back to the hole a few inches at a time and tamped tight around the stone. Only use a short length of wooden 2”x4” to tamp; never use metal close to a headstone as contact will damage the stone. Every few inches of tamped fill, the level should be checked to assure the stone is plumb and level. After the dirt has been replaced, any sod that was removed should be replaced.

Checking the stone’s level before back filling the hole.

Jason Church, NPS

Resetting a Stone

To reset a headstone, it must be dug out and removed before resetting can begin. Great care must be taken when digging out a sunken, fallen, or leaning stone. Never dig any closer than 2” from the headstone, as any shovel strike could damage it. If a stone is leaning severely, dig deep enough to set the stone back in the opposite direction as the lean. Occasionally the hole must be dug quite deep to remove a sunken headstone. Make sure to continue to dig and remove dirt from around the stone until it can be easily moved around by hand. After the headstone has been removed follow the previ-ous instructions to set the stone back properly. If the headstone is still surrounded by dirt and/or tree roots and is forced into vertical alignment, it could break.

Finishing the Job

Once the headstone is set or reset it should be cleaned with a soft, natural bristle brush, water, and D/2 Biological Solution or similar cleaner.

Example of a Union Civil War to Spanish American War Stone.

Jason Church, NPS

Example of Resetting

Please see the downloadable PDF for more examples.

Reference

History of Government Furnished Head-stones and Markers - National Cemetery Administration

Author and Editor

Author: Jason Church, Chief of Technical Services,NCPTT
Series Editor: Kirk A. Cordell, NCPTT Executive Director
Cover Photo: Jason Church, NPS

About NCPTT
The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) is a research, technology and training center within the National Park Service. NCPTT publishes its Preservation Matters Series to provide easily accessible guidelines for preserving cultural materials.