By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
new4garrod@gmail.com
LAWTON – What began as a project last fall to restore tombstones of service veterans buried in a Lawton cemetery, doing it out of the goodness of her heart to help out, continued last Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17.
Laurie Bastian, of Lawton, and a group of approximately 20 volunteers, from all walks of life, returned to Oak Grove Cemetery, Lawton. There, the group spent Saturday and Sunday restoring old and weathered and sometimes buried tombstones from the sprawling cemetery.
“We need to remember our veterans,” said Lawton American Legion Waters-Hackenberg Post 220 Commander Lyle Paterala-Streeter, who joined the group on Saturday.
Last fall, Bastian asked the post if it would consider reimbursing her for initial cemetery cleaning supplies of just over $60. They responded and more than doubled her request, offering her $150 for her work supplies.
In restoring the tombstones, Bastian uses a three-step process, spray with water, a second scrub, and “a lot of elbow grease,” then D-2 to eat away the bacteria.
Bastian said she is very appreciative of the many individuals and businesses who stepped up to volunteer services or food. The list included Pizza Hut, lunch donation; Ace Hardware, Paw Paw; Tractor Supply, Paw Paw; the Harris Family, Lawton, who provided refreshments; Zach Richards, of Edward Jones, who donated brushes; Adams Hardware, Lawton, pails; Victoria Zeimer, a monetary donation; Flory Septic, Lawton American Legion Waters-Hackenberg Post 220, and the Village of Lawton.
The cemetery experienced a recent act of vandalism that caused water to be shut off to the cemetery. Brian Cronenwett, of Cronenwett Farms, donated the use of a retired Lawton fire truck and a tank full of water.
“The community came together,” said Bastian. “It was an awesome thing,” she said.
Bastian, who began tracing her genealogy, soon expanded her work to tombstone restoration. She has expanded her work to include tombstone repair, and has started her own business, Bastian’s Monument Cleaning and Repair, which she does in addition to her fulltime job.
Bastian’s interest in tombstone restoration, has also seen a spark in interest in different memberships associated with the Lawton American Legion. Last fall, Paterala-Streeter said there was decline in post membership. At that time, the post had nine active members, with six of those members in their late 60s.
Paterala-Streeter has been a member for the past three and a half years, after first being approached over five and a half years ago to join.
A legion auxiliary chapter was formed, according to Paterala-Streeter, and now sports over 20 individuals, with Bastian herself, joining the auxiliary chapter. Paterala-Streeter said more than 20 members make up the Sons of the American Legion.
Paterala-Streeter, a Marine veteran, said individuals who would like to financially assist Bastian in her restoration efforts may do so by sending checks to Lawton American Legion Waters-Hackenberg Post 220, P.O. Box 253, Lawton, MI., 49065. In the memo line, write tombstone restoration.
In closing, Bastian said she is proud to be a part of such a caring community. She would like to make it an annual community event.
