Historic Cemetery Monument Assessments to Continue Spring 2010

The Grand Army of the Republic Monument at the San Francisco National Cemetery will be assessed in 2010.

Heritage Preservation has been assisting the National Cemetery Administration of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the preservation of approximately 170 memorials in VA cemeteries for the past year. In 2009, Heritage Preservation coordinated conservators to assess 85 monuments in 41 cemeteries. With more than $4 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the VA will be able to conserve about 60 of these assessed monuments. Heritage Preservation helped promote these opportunities to the conservation community and participated in the formal review of the received proposals. The initial phase of this project has already employed 30 conservators and more will be hired to conduct treatments. While this extensive national effort will improve the condition and appearance of memorials that provide solemn remembrance of military service members, many of the monuments pose significant conservation challenges. Some monuments date back as far as the 1860 and 1870s, some are located in harsh climates, others were created with multiple materials, and many are large scale – some 60 feet or taller.

A Request for Proposals will be issued in February 2010 to assess a final group of about 80 monuments in 28 cemeteries across the country. The RFP will be posted on the Heritage Preservation Web site. To be added to the mailing list, please contact lhunley(a)heritagepreservation.org.

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