Scrubadub - The Governor`s Own Iowa Rifles

“Scrubadub”
Woodland/Glendale Cemeteries 20 June, 2015
Guardsmen of the 49th Iowa continue to also serve our state, our communities, and our
veterans and their families in several ways. Engaging in cemetery-related ceremonial
endeavors to honor veterans like the annual Wreaths Across America Project and
Memorial Day Remembrances; performing uniformed Full Military Honors at the
dedications of newly places gravestones in compliance with military regulations and
protocols; providing dignified and militarily appropriate flag-retirement ceremonies for
municipalities and county agencies; are but a few of the activities that we engage in to
fulfill our commitment to continue to honor those veterans who have served our state and
nation and are now at rest beneath Iowa sod.
One of our latest endeavors latest undertakings has been the cleaning of government
issued gravestones that have been long neglected and discolored from age, air pollution,
and the encroachment of mosses and lichens.
A Short History of Military Headstones and Markers
Wooden grave markers at Alexandria National Cemetery, Virginia, c-1862-1867
Library of Congress photo, attributed to Andrew Russell
Prior to the American Civil War, 1861-1865, when a member of the United States Military died it
was the responsibility of the post or garrison commander of the deceased to see to it that his
remains were interred in a designated cemetery plot within the confines of the “military
reservation” where he served; but, only if the death occurred on in in close proximity thereto.
And, typically those graves were marked with painted wooden grave markers such as those seen
in the period photograph above. If the serviceman’s place of death was distant from his post, or
another military reservation, he was usually buried near the spot where his death occurred, and
the grave may or may not have been marked with even the ephemeral wooden markers. There
was also no centralized records system in place that assured uniformity of record keeping of the
whereabouts of these graves, and so many went unmarked, and unrecorded.
This system would prove woefully inadequate to deal with the mass casualties that were about to
become the norm once the hostilities of the Civil War broke out, and would soon be quickly
overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of dead that had to be dealt with. As the nation undertook to
build a mighty army to preserve the Union, it too had to build a massive system to administer the
losses that such an army prophesied. Thus, within two months of the first “battle” of the war at
Manassas, Virginia, the War Department issued General Order Number 75 on September 11,
1861, that tasked field commanders of all national forces with the responsibility for burying their
dead, marking the grave, and recording the sites of the burials. The Quartermaster General of the
Armies was also directed to provide “headboards, as well as blank books and forms for the
preservation of burial records”, thus creating the first organized system for marking the final
resting places of the dead.
Because the large “National Cemeteries” were yet in the future, and armies engaged in combat
operations tend to be mobile entities, the burial places of the dead from the battles of the first
months and years of the war were, at best, widely scattered and often poorly recorded. By war’s
end in 1865, several large National Cemeteries had been established and there was a concerted
effort undertaken to attempt to locate the initial burial places of the dead so that they could be
moved to these new cemeteries, or returned to their families for interment close to their homes of
record. Sadly, these efforts were only marginally successful. By 1865 only around 100,000*
interments had been made in these National Cemeteries. Untold thousands of those who perished
were never found, and their graves remain unmarked.
*An 1866 report compiled at the direction of United States Provost Marshal General James B. Fry placed the total
Union Army dead at 279,689 men. Within four short years, the Report of the Surgeon General in 1870 placed the total
numbers of federal dead at 304,000, but this number was based solely upon the numbers of men who died during their
actual terms of service. It excluded nearly 37,000 black soldiers who had perished in service to the nation and did not
include any of the estimated “tens of thousands discharged to die; tens of thousands died within the first few months
after discharge” according the Francis Amasa Walker, Superintendent of the 1870 and 1880 Censuses. A complete
and accurate accounting of Confederate dead was believed to be nigh onto impossible, but Walker opined as a result of
that same Federal Census of 1870 (the first after the end of the war) that the total number of male deaths was “not less
than 850,000”.
In light of the interments of 100,000 dead in the new National Cemeteries by 1865, and dealing
with the devastating effects of the war on the economy of the nation, economists of the period
quickly calculated that there would eventually be somewhere in the neighborhood of 300,000
dead recovered and interred. The Federal “Bean Counters” calculations readily showed that at an
average cost of $1.23 per grave marker; and each of these having at best a five year lifespan
before needing to be replaced, original replacement costs for these “headboards” would exceed $1
million over a 20-year period. Something had to be done…but the machinery of government may
grind finely, but not rapidly.
Arguments raged back and forth between members of the War Department, the Cabinet, the
White House, and the public at large over what sort of monument of a more permanent nature
should replace the wooden headboard. The leading contenders that emerged were for the use of
either stone markers made of marble; and, for a cast metal product made of galvanized iron
(sometimes called “spelter”) that was growing in popularity with the public at large.
In 1873, Secretary of War William W. Belknap formally adopted the first design for stones to be
placed in all National Cemeteries. The known dead would be marked by a slab of marble or
durable stone that would be, “4 inches thick, 10 inches wide, and stand 12 inches in height
extending above the ground.” The portion to stand above ground level to be polished and the top
to be slightly curved. The registration number of the grave, the soldiers name and rank, and the
state from which he served were to be cut on the front face. These were formally referred to as
the “Civil War type” and was to be furnished to members of the Union Armies only. The stone
also bore the design of a “sunken shield” with the inscription in bas relief.
The “unknown dead” the stone was to be a simple block of granite or durable stone, 6 inches
square and thirty inches in length. Only the upper four inches of the stone were to be polished
and the grave number was inscribed on the top of the stone. In February, 1879, Congress
authorized the furnishing of the stones for the marking of graves of the “unknown dead” in
private cemeteries.
Graves of the unknown dead at Vicksburg National Military Cemetery, Vicksburg, Mississippi.
This “Civil War type” stone was also furnished for the unmarked graves of the dead from not
only that war, but also for the graves of eligible deceased from the Revolutionary War, the War of
1812, the Mexican War, and the “Indian Wars”. At the conclusion of the Spanish-American War,
it was determined that this same design should be used to mark the graves of those dead as well.
A durability study conducted in 1902 lead to regulation changes in 1903 that mandated that the
stone slab markers would remain at 4 inches in thickness but would be increased in width to 12
inches and that the overall length of the stones would increase to 39 inches. The use of the
“unknown dead” stone block was also discontinued at that time (1903) and the same “Civil War
type” stone marked “Unknown” would then become standard issue.
In 1904, Congress authorized the marking of the graves of civilians buried in cemeteries on
military posts.
In 1906 Congress (Public Law 38; Chapter 631, 59th Congress) authorized the permanent
markers for the graves of Confederate dead from prison camps and hospitals who were buried in
federal cemeteries. The same size, design, and dimensions as the federal stones were to be used
to mark the Confederate graves, except that the tops of the stones were to be slightly pointed, and
the shield design was omitted. (A popular saying of the day by Southerners held that, “the stones
were pointed to keep Yankees from sitting on them”.) An Act of the 70th Congress (Chapter 324)
extended the authority to provide these stones to burials of Confederate dead in private
cemeteries.
After years of discussion and lobbying, on May 26, 1930, the War Department implemented new
regulations that allowed for Confederate headstones to be authorized the inscription of the
“Confederate Cross of Honor” in a small circular engraving on the front of the stones above the
standard inscription of the soldiers rank, name, company and regiment.
Following WWI, a new design type called the “General” stone would be used for all burials of
the dead except those of the Civil War. The new design would remain a slab, slightly rounded at
the top, and made of American white marble, 42 inches in length, 13 inches in width and 4 inches
thick. The inscription would include the soldiers name and rank, regiment, division, date of death
and state from which he came. For the first time, a religious emblem reflective of the soldier’s
personal faith was authorized for use on the face of the stone at the request of the surviving
family. Only the “Latin Cross” denoting the Christian faith; and, the “Star of David” for soldiers
of the Jewish faith were authorized.
From 1941 until 1947, the Under Secretary of War authorized the use of granite stones but the
authorization was short-lived when it became apparent that the costs of procuring these stones
was prohibitive.
Some private cemeteries would not allow upright markers, and so flat stone designs for veterans
graves were authorized by a serious of acts and approvals of the Assistant Secretary of War
between 1936 and 1939; and, by 1940 a flat casted-bronze marker would come into use. These
underwent a design change beginning in 1973. Both the flat stone and bronze markers would be
authorized at sizes of 24 inches in length and 12 inches in width. The flat stone slabs would
remain four inches deep with incised inscriptions; and the bronze markers would be cast at threesixteenths of an inch in thickness with raised lettering. Both types were to be placed so as to be
flush with the ground so as to reduce the potentiality of mower damage.
Near the end of WWII (in 1944) dates of birth were authorized.
In 1951 symbols of the Buddhist faith were authorized for placement on federally issued
veteran’s stones. Also that year, in light of our involvement in the Korean War, the word “Korea”
was authorized for inclusion onto the stones of the recently fallen from that conflict. At first,
only those who died in action in the theater of operations in Korea, or as a result of wounds
received in said theater could have the word “Korea” placed upon their stones. This was
modified in 1954 to include all who “served” in the Korean Theater of Operations between June
27, 1950 and July 27, 1954.
On December 11, 1964, the Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army for Civil Functions
authorized the word “Vietnam” for inscription upon the stones of those whose deaths occurred
“in-country” or whose demise was attributable to service within Vietnam for so long as military
action was taking place in that county. This authorization was made retroactive to the year 1954.
This authorization has been expanded to include all who were on active duty and served “incountry or in territorial waters” from February 28, 1961 through May 7, 1975.
On September 1, 1973, eighty-two of the eighty-four National Cemeteries, exclusive of Arlington
and the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery (located at the Armed Forces retirement
Home, Washington, D.C.) were turned over to the Administrator of Veterans Affairs. Arlington
and the Soldier’s and Airmen’s” cemeteries remain under the direct control of the Department of
the Army.
“Flaggers at Arlington”
Every Memorial Day and Veterans Day the entire 3rd Infantry Division “Old Guard” deploy over 400,000 flags to the
graves of those interred at this most hallowed place on American soil. The dead at Arlington come from every state
and territory in the Union; and from eleven foreign nations.
“Flaggers at Arlington”
In 1983, the Chief Memorial Affairs Director of the Veterans Administration authorized the
additions of the words “Lebanon” and “Grenada” for the stones of those who died as a result of
military actions in those nations. On December 22, 1989, “Panama” was added; and “Persian
Gulf” for those killed in operations in that area after August 2, 1990.
December 12, 1988, saw the addition of the terms, “MIA” and “POW” to the stones (or memorial
stones) of individuals where that designation was applicable.
As a result of the military actions in Somalia, that word would become authorized on December
4, 1992.
In 1997, the “Inclusive Inscription Policy” was implemented which allows for terms of
endearment (such as “Beloved husband/wife” “Spouse” “Loving Husband, Father and
Grandfather”, etc.).
Public Law 107-103, signed on December 27, 2001, allows the VA to furnish an appropriate
government marker for the grave of a veteran buried in a private cemetery regardless of whether
the grave is already marked by a private marker. On December 6th, 2002, this law was amended
to extend this benefit to veterans who died on or after September 11th, 2001.
Cleaning Government Gravestones
The first “rule of thumb” is, of course, do no harm!
Caustic, acid-based cleaning products, scouring powders, anything containing ammonia,
bleaches, or salts SHOULD NOT be used…EVER!
USE NOTHING that contains sodium hypochlorite (NaClO, sodium perborate, sodium
percarbonate, sodium persulfate, tetra sodium pyrophosphate, calcium hypochlorite or urea
peroxide. For instance “Daybreak” brand cleaner contains 14% sodium hypochlorite…so read the
labels and if you see any of the chemicals listed above…don’t use it.
Nor should you use metal bristle brushes or scouring pads on the marble stones. Do not use
power tools of any kind. Do not use high-pressure washers. DO USE elbow grease and lots of it.
The mildest cleaning solutions such as common dish soap, and a medium stiffness plastic bristle
brushes will do wonders. Water, Water, and more Water are always a good idea.
Always use the gentlest and leave invasive method possible. Remember, each gravestone of a
veteran who has served this nation is, in a sense, a national monument to his/her service and
sacrifice and should always be treated with the dignity and respect that those services and
sacrifices have earned.
The 49th Iowa uses a biocidal cleaning product that is marketed under the name “D/2 Biological
Solution”, manufactured by Sunshine Makers, 7266 Park Circle Drive, Hanover, MD 21076.
(This is the product that is used at Arlington National Cemetery and also at The White House. It
is available on-line at any number of outlets; or by calling Cathedral Stone Products, Inc. at 410782-9150. We recommend that you do a computer search to see if there are distributors for the
product in your area as the shipping costs are almost as much as the solution itself. It generally is
available in one gallon and five gallon sizes. Follow the directions on the label for best results. It
is bio-degradable, contains no acids or salts, and will not harm plants and/or animals.
Another product that is available to the public is called “Enviro Klean Bio Wash”, manufactured
and distributed by PROSOCO, Inc., 3741 Greenway Circle, Lawrence, KS 66046. They can be
reached at 800-255-4255
Two of the amazing things about biocidal cleaners are that they remove a large number of the
lichens, molds, mosses that often threaten to completely devour a stone over time, and they
continue to retard the returning of these biological agents for extended periods of time. You will
notice that after a good treatment and scrubbing with these products, the stone will continue to
lighten up a bit more every time they get wet over about the next thirty days or so following
cleaning.
More than you ever wanted to know, right?
Bugler of the United States Army Band plays “Taps” at Arlington National Cemetery
Remember, military stones are placed over the final resting place of this nations honored dead.
Veterans of this nations many wars and times of strife. These men and women, at the very least,
separated themselves from their homes, their families, their friends, and entered into the service
of this nation in order to defend the freedoms that are ours to either cherish or take for granted.
They represent the very best that this nation has to offer, and we are all deeply blessed that over,
and over, and over again in our long history they have been willing to take their places on the
wall and stand should to should with one another to tell this nations enemies, “this ends here!”
They have earned, and deserve, or respect, our remembrance, and our best efforts to preserve and
protect the peace and sanctity of their final resting places.
THE most recent and up-to-date information concerning the acquisition of government issues
Headstone, Markers and Medallions can be found on the Veteran’s Administration website at
www.va.gov/cem/hmm/eligibility.asp.
VA Form 40-1330, Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker is also available as a
pdf document at that website. This is the form that you will need to submit, along with the
veteran’s proof of service to obtain a stone.
The Veteran’s Administration also maintains a number of regional offices across the country and
a toll-free information and assistance number of 1-800-827-1000.
You can also contact the Iowa Military Heritage Society through this website for assistance in
completing the paperwork for obtaining a government stone. For information concerning Full
Military Honors ceremonies for recently marked graves of long deceased veterans: as well as the
appropriate cleaning of gravestones contact us at:
The Honor Guard
Co “A” 49th Iowa V.V.I. Regiment
P.O. Box 30008
Johnston, Iowa 40131
Respectfully submitted,
1/Lt. David M. Lamb
Inf. Commanding
“The Governor’s Own”
Honor Guard to the Iowa Military Heritage Society
Sources:
National Cemetery Administration: “History of Government Furnished Headstones and Markers”, Veterans
Administration National website at www.cem.va.gov/history/hmhist.asp
National Cemetery Administration: “Headstones, Markers and Medallions”, Veterans Administration website at
www.cem.va.gov/hmm/pre_WWI_era.asp.
National Park Service’s National Center for Preservation technology and Training for the Department of Veterans
Affairs National Cemetery Administration, “Best Practice Recommendations for Cleaning Government Issued
Headstones”. Circular dated 23 May, 2011.