While most kids his age would likely spend a Saturday morning sleeping in, teenager Josh Bourbon had a better idea – honoring soldiers from his area’s Civil War past.
Honoring the Past
Bourbon, a life scout with Troop 32 in West Dundee, Illinois, spent the Saturday morning of Oct. 18 scraping off peat moss and the other blemishes from headstones that date back more than a century. With a pack of volunteers, Bourbon led a cleanup crew that brought a little more shine and honor to Union soldiers buried in the Dundee Township Cemetery.
To help complete his project, Bourbon received sponsorship from the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, Camp No. 2, an organization in Aurora, Illinois, along with West Dundee’s VFW Post 2298 and the Three Fires Council in St. Charles, Illinois.
While Bourbon came up with the idea to clean the veteran headstones, he still needed approval from local organizations. When he approached Dundee Township and the Dundee Township Historical Society about his plans, both entities were on board, giving the green light for the restoration project.
No Easy Task
Despite being enthusiastic about the work, Bourbon realized scraping nature’s mold off aged and weather-worn headstones wouldn’t be an easy task. Bourbon and his volunteers grabbed bottles of D/2 Biological Solution, used by the U.S. government to clean historic buildings and national monuments, and started spraying. The solution is so potent that it’s used to wash away grime from headstones at Arlington National Cemetery.
The cleaning solution can eliminate lichen and algae, illuminating headstones without inflicting damage to the structures. Bourbon was pleased to see the D/2 Biological Solution work well enough to restore much of the stones’ luster. He believes it will protect the gravesites for years in the future.
“This cemetery is really close to home,” Bourbon said. “I wanted to honor those who preserved our nation by cleaning the monument and their Civil War headstones, and I wanted to help out my community.”
Remember Their Sacrifices
Along with about 15 volunteers, Bourbon logged more than four hours in the cemetery, meticulously cleaning each headstone belonging to a Civil War veteran. Most of these Union soldiers likely no longer have family ties with West Dundee, so having people visit the gravesites is unlikely. They’ve been largely forgotten with time.
Bourbon didn’t forget.
His project restores a slice of dignity to these Union soldiers that he hopes will last for decades to come.
Matt Clark, from the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, said it’s heartwarming to see this type of dedication from a young volunteer.
“We appreciate Josh and his efforts to remember those who died in battle to reunite the country at a time of great divide,” Clark said. “We’re grateful for all his volunteers and the meaningful work they accomplished.”
For Bourbon, the restoration project is another key element toward earning the Eagle Scout badge, the highest rank in scouting. But perhaps more importantly, the work helps connect the present with the past, teaching a new generation about the sacrifices veterans made to preserve the nation more than 160 years ago.
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