Never forget. As patriotic Americans, we repeat these words to honor and thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice. So many who served our country are no longer with us, filling our local and national cemeteries. Each one deserves to be remembered well and one local Veteran and Founder of Refreshing Memorials, Cody Vernon, is showing his respect by ensuring their resting places reflect the honor they have earned.
“I had the privilege to spend time with Pearl Harbor and WWII survivors during our tours in Hawaii and have also visited many national cemeteries like Arlington and Punchbowl. In national cemeteries, headstones are routinely maintained, but veterans buried in private cemeteries rely solely on family members or volunteers to maintain the grave markers,” Cody tells us reflecting on his work.
Cody joined the U.S. Navy in 1996 as a supply officer and served a combined eight years as active and reserve, attaining the rank of Lieutenant. His wife Kyle joined the Navy in 1983. She retired after 34 years of active service, reaching the rank of Commander. The two met in San Diego while serving together onboard a nuclear submarine dry dock.
They settled in Mason in the summer of 2018 after retiring and traveling the country for a year in an RV. “What drew us to the community was that our son would be able to attend one school for his high school years. Raised as a military child up to that point, he had been in six schools in eight years. Mason offered him stability for his high school years,” Cody relates.
Cody began restoring headstones about one year ago and estimates he has refreshed more than 100 grave markers in Deerfield and Symmes Townships. “I primarily focus on military graves at Rose Hill and Union Cemeteries, serving veterans from the War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq War and Afghanistan War,” Cody remarks.
The cleaning process begins with obtaining permission, documenting with photos and then conducting a thorough inspection, looking for erosion, surface cracks and noting the stability of the marker. He determines whether cleaning could cause further damage or instability. “I strictly follow the national cemetery administration’s guidelines on cleaning government-furnished headstones and markers,” Cody explains.
He uses soft bristle brushes and water to remove any soiling. If staining remains from biological growth such as algae, moss or mold, a specially formulated solution is applied. This one-time, gentle application works over several weeks and months to reduce any staining and helps restore the service member’s marker to an honorable condition. Cody points out, “Household cleaning products, bleach, wire brushes and power washing should never be used as they will destroy the integrity of the stones and markers.”
“I am amazed and very impressed,” Union Cemetery Sexton Bill Pitman tells us after seeing the work Cody has completed on some of the almost unreadable stones. “I know the family members of the veterans are very appreciative and quite surprised when they see how good the headstones look when he is finished.”
Cody volunteers his time and his supplies are self-funded. He never seeks praise for his work, but his wife Kyle tells us of a letter he received from a former Mason area resident who had moved away and thanked him for caring for her loved one’s headstone. She wrote, “My father served in WWII and received the Bronze Star. He and his wife are laid to rest at Union Cemetery. I knew there was deterioration over the years, but not living in the area any longer, I had no way of maintaining the headstone. This past fall when we were visiting, it was the first stop I made. Thank you for your resources and time."
“There will always be a need for refurbishing due to the effects of nature and time,” Cody stresses. “My intent for the families is that their loved one’s service is honored and not forgotten, despite them not being with us anymore. Every single memorial I interact with holds meaning for me. But the ones where the veteran died in defense of our country truly humbles me every time.”
Cody adds, “A quote from Benjamin Franklin has always struck a chord with me: ‘Show me your cemeteries and I will tell you what kind of people you have.’ I encourage everyone to remember those who served or gave their life in service to our country. A visit to our local cemetery will quickly reveal how many men and women in our community have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
For more information:
Visit the National Cemetery Administration website: CEM.va.gov/HMM/Cleaning.asp
The Warren County Genealogical Society offers workshops. Visit their website at WCGSOhio.org/cemetery-restoration-workshops.
Discover the histories of many local veterans at MasonHistoricalSociety.org.
Contact Cody or request refurbishing via refreshingmemorials@gmail.com.
Before and after pictures are posted on the @refreshing_memorials Instagram page and updated photos can be viewed at FindAGrave.com.
Rose Hill Cemetery:
Rose Hill Cemetery, located at 171 S. Mason-Montgomery Rd., was established in 1868. It is the largest of three cemeteries owned and operated by Deerfield Township. More than 1500 veterans who represent every national war are buried there along with their loved ones. William Mason, Revolutionary War Veteran and Founder of Mason is buried at Rose Hill.
Union Cemetery:
Union Cemetery can be found at the intersection of Montgomery and Union Cemetery roads. Originally privately owned, it became a public cemetery in 1861 and is one of three cemeteries managed by Symmes Township. There are 369 veteran gravesites at the cemetery. Born in 1757, the oldest veteran buried at Union Cemetery is Revolutionary War soldier John Ross (8th Co. 7th Battalion), who died in 1820.
“I am amazed and very impressed. I know the family members of the veterans are very appreciative.."
“I encourage everyone to remember those who served or gave their life in service to our country.”