DAR cleans the tombstones of patriots

If Charlie Brown were searching for the Great Pumpkin at the Lewes Presbyterian Church, he might have stumbled across the graves of some great patriots from Lewes’ past. Thanks to members of the Col. David Hall Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, some of those tombstones can be seen a bit more clearly now. 

On Oct. 15 the local DAR chapter continued to honor those who helped America gain and maintain independence by getting their hands and knees dirty as they scrubbed and cleaned away lichen from tombstones. In addition to Col. Hall and his family members, several other notable people reside in the cemetery, including Col. Henry Neill, former Congressman John Wallace Houston, former Congressman Robert Griffith Houston, former Congressman Elisha Dickerson Cullen, and former Gov. Ebe Tunnell. 

Granville Mead, the caretaker of the cemetery, said natural elements tend to wreak havoc on the various types of stone used to make tombstones. Names, dates and quotes can fade over time, leaving what appears to be a blank grave if maintenance does not take place. Chapter Regent Patricia Haas said it was important for her group to make sure anyone visiting the tombstones can identify who had been laid to rest there and any final words they wanted people to see. 

Some graves are beyond repair, but those that could be cleaned received a cleansing involving a biological solution called D/2. It is the same substance used to clean the veterans’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery and works incredibly well. Elements, the primary cause of deterioration, become useful to the process when D/2 is applied, as the sun continues to help clean months after application.

Thanks to the volunteers, visitors to the cemetery should be able to get a first-hand account of history, without the need for zombies running about.