210416 Grave Cleaning 3
James Neiss/staff photographer
Lockport, NY - Laura Prosser of Lockport talks about her process for cleaning headstones with volunteers wanting to do the same

Laura Prosser, right and Cookie Butcher, second from right, have been cleaning the graves of veterans in the Summit Street Cemetery, and have gotten a lot of reactions ranging from a thumbs-up for community service, to concern of the chemicals used on the headstones corroding the inscriptions. Recently, Boy Scout Spencer Pynn, third from right next to his father Tim, decided to conduct his Eagle Scout project at the cemetery and plans to clear away debris and also contribute to the final resting place of past veterans. Also joining the efforts are volunteer David Lundy of Grand Island who did something similar as a youth.