KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – More than 100 headstones in Union Cemetery are bright and shining once again thanks to an $800 grant and the hard work of volunteers.
Union Cemetery Historical Society announced on Saturday, Aug. 17, that it was recently awarded an $800 grant from Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area to help clean and maintain headstones in one metro area cemetery.
The organization indicated that the funds have already been used to purchase supplies to help further the mission of preservation and protection at the historic Union Cemetery. Cleaning agent D2 from Atlas Preservation, brushes, buckets, gloves and other items were all necessary to safely clean all stone types.
“This is a way for people to get a hands-on approach to history,” said a society spokesperson. “Not everyone likes to pick up a book and read about history, so we’ve been creating ways people can access history and interact in a different form.”
The organization noted that it also offers classes on cleaning methods and the importance of clean markers. Members discuss the lives of those buried in the cemetery as well as safety and which markers not to clean.
With the grant funds, the Society said it has been able to clean more than 100 headstones in the past month. After individuals take a class, they are welcome to return and volunteer and care for the cemetery.
Thanks to the grant, the organization said it has been able to offer group cleaning days, additional classes and one-on-one tutorials to help individuals better understand the rich history of the city and how to preserve it.
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