Ever since Washburn-McReavy purchased Crystal Lake Cemetery four years ago, it was recognized that the Veterans Memorial had been neglected for decades. The white government headstones were covered with lichen, mold and stains. The "cannon" wheels were rotting, and the concrete base of the flag pole was deteriorating. It became a priority for the new owners, the McReavy family, to continue to honor the veterans interred at Crystal Lake Cemetery by properly restoring and maintaining the markers and the monuments which are part of the veteran's memorial.
The Veterans Memorial was erected in the early 1900s to commemorate those who served in the Spanish American War. The flagpole and artillery piece were donated at the time by a now unknown organization. There is a bronze plaque on the flagpole denoting the Spanish American War. A plaque on the side of the "cannon" identifies it as a 1932, 32-inch gun carriage, model of 1892, Rock Island Arsenal, 1894.
The wheels on the gun have the original oak spokes. Time and weather have taken their toll and the wood in contact with the ground had severely rotted. There was a concern this past Memorial Day that a person could be injured if it were to suddenly fall. Therefore, safety jacks were placed under the axel. "We wanted to wait until after Memorial Day to remove the gun," said Ray Gummer, manager at Crystal Lake Cemetery. "But family safety was more important."
According to Gummer, the cannon is a favorite place for families to go on Memorial Day. He said he has seen photos which families have taken more than 80 years ago. "It is important to keep the gun here not just to honor the veterans who served," explained Gummer, "but to maintain the legacy of this place in the cemetery which is honored to share it with the public."
One member of the public, Scott Anderson, came to the cemetery in March and saw the condition of the gun. He had a relative in the Westphal American Legion, whom he approached concerning funding the restoration. The American Legion agreed to pay for new wheels, cleaning and repainting. They also had a number of contacts to assist in other areas of the restoration such as donation of labor and materials.
In addition to the refurbishing of the artillery piece, Washburn McReavy also had to deal with the cleaning and restoration of more than 350 government-issued, white grave markers which were stained with lichen - a complex growth of fungi and algae that appears on rocks and trees.
John Pederson, owner of Grave Groomers, a personalized gravesite restoration and care service, saw the condition of the veteran's markers in Crystal Lake Cemetery and other cemeteries in the area. He started a nationwide program through his website and franchises to preserve and restore all Veterans sections in privately owned cemeteries across the U.S. To fund the program Christmas wreaths were sold through his website and at private cemeteries like Crystal Lake. All the proceeds went towards veterans' marker restoration.
According to Pederson, marble is softer and more porous than the granite used for most cemetery markers and monuments. "It requires a special touch," said Pederson. "We use a cleaner that is 100 percent biodegradable and ecologically friendly. The cleaner kills the growth on the stone without killing the grass around it. The cleaner actually keeps working as rainwater wicks through the stone. The stones are actually getting whiter with the rain."
Training personnel from branch locations across the country came the weekend before Memorial Day to learn the proper way to clean and care for marble markers. "The work can be very detailed and time consuming," said Pederson. "People must learn that it cannot be cleaned by high-pressure power washing or harsh chemicals which would also damage the lettering. There is a definite learning curve to doing this right," he concluded.
The restoration of the artillery piece and the veteran's markers are but a part of the efforts to continually maintain and improve the grounds at Crystal Lake Cemetery. The public is invited to pay their respects to the veterans interred at Crystal Lake Cemetery and see the work of those trying to honor them by caring for and maintaining their graves. The main gate is located near the corner of Penn and Dowling Avenues.