To polish and preserve, local organizations are cleaning veterans’ gravestones in Bryan

BRYAN, TEXAS – Many residents of the Bryan College Station community spent their time on Saturday morning thinking about others, including veterans and their service.

“It’s something that needs to be done frequently,” said one volunteer.

Preserve veterans’ gravestones one spray and one shot at a time.

“People from WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf Wars 1 and 2. We see a little variety of all the different wars. It’s cool to see all of them. the story that is here in this community, “Kyle Schumann, a veteran and resident of Bryan said.

Schumann, a veteran himself, says what he does is something he hopes to receive in return.

“Someday I too will pass and that means someone will one day come and take care of my gravestone,” he added.

Volunteers say that seeing the community come together is what we experience … it is.

“Whatever their views, their origins, their race, their religion or their beliefs,” said Schumann.

“You read where they served … right? World War II … and you keep it clean,” said volunteer Peyton LaBauve.

A worthy exercise for Peyton LaBauve who says the BCS community is one of the most military-friendly he has seen and that preserving the tombstones of those who have served is special.

“It evokes the concept of dignity. We don’t often think of dignity in our day-to-day lives, but we honor tombstones and we honor those who have served and who rest here,” LaBauve, president of BCS Young Republicans, a volunteer aid organization said on Saturday.

Residents and local organizations volunteered their time on Saturday morning, including Wreaths Across America, which provided the basics, an organization dedicated to the memory and honor of veterans.

“One way to do that is to get together usually once a month and polish the veterans headstones here at Bryan City cemetery. There are about 2,000 veterans here… We did maybe. be 5 or 6 months now, ”Jim Matis, a volunteer with Just Serve said.

Polish and Hold … something Matis says anyone can do.

“You would be amazed how we apply this chemical, how this gravestone polishes… There is a special sense of reverence and awe to see this happen,” Matis added.