One of our most memorable walks on our honeymoon in 1977, was looking at a special tombstone in Maine that read in part ‘lost on the voyage to Zanzibar.’ It was before the immediate availability of a cell phone photo or I would have taken a memory with it. But, it has stayed in our hearts all these years. Sorry to say, neither of us remember the name of the young man, but the memory is still a gentle prayer every time I remember in the telling of it. There are people that will notice your hard work and silently thank you for your work. I thank you for these gifts.

They look really nice! I stopped to visit the cemetery last time I went to our family home. The markers were in good condition and still legible. I think they are newer than most you clean (70's) and no trees nearby. I love the name.❤😊

I admire the work you do. I love walking through cemeteries/graveyards and reading the stones. I'm the only one in my family, who cleans the family's stones, now I'm inspired to look for those that really need care. Thank you.

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

4 ай бұрын

It has become a passion of mine for sure. They ones we do rarely have a story that I am able to look up or research (as most are stillborn or pass very young), but I know most viewers do enjoy a good background to go along with it. We just typically try to clean the ones that are no longer readable.

When in my family cemeteries, I always pick a child’s stone and clean it. I know there is a mother looking down on me honoring the memory of her child by restoring it.

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

7 ай бұрын

My son and I began this earlier this year and we really enjoy being able to work on the kids graves. A lot that we have done most likely still have parents that might be around or in the area….so it makes me proud to think maybe one day they come to visit and see that it’s being cared for. It’s nice to meet someone else that does this in their spare time.

@janettamcgee8124

Ай бұрын

My mother's aunt and uncle's first child was a stillborn girl named Imogene. They went on to have 7 more children. They always said that they had 8 children. 57 years after her birth her dad died of cancer. My mom told me that one of the last things he said was, "I get to see Imogene. I can't wait." They never forgot her. Semi- quoting an old hymn, What a day of rejoicing that must have been. You'll have your day, too.

Cemeteries should have a record of all burials

They may have died before birth, or been still born. Maybe no date of birth implies they never lived. What a painful thing, who knows what happens. They may have been postumously put there..in commeration.

@DianeCasanova

Ай бұрын

Those were my thoughts. I'm going to assume that the cemetery records have some information, but it may not be public?

@jeannewise8779

Ай бұрын

you are right

You’re a good person

I like your new name. I love that you are cleaning infant graves. My husband and I lost our son in 1973 and I cried when you cleaned the babies born in 1973. Even after fifty years, it's raw....

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

Жыл бұрын

I would "heart" this comment, but it doesn't seem quite right to. Another viewer stated something very similar and even the same year...so I am very sorry for your loss. My cousin lost his first born the day she was born and he never did recover from that.

@susank9506

Жыл бұрын

@@VirginiaTombstoneRevivalThank you for your kind response. You don't recover here on earth but I know I'll be with him in Heaven. Thank you for cleaning veteran graves too. We have many veterans in our family including my husband who served 1966 - 1969. Any grave you clean shows great respect. I've always loved to walk through cemeteries and of course I'm drawn to baby graves. Thank you for doing this!

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

Жыл бұрын

@@susank9506 it’s my honor. I was an Army soldier, my brother retired Marines, several Air Force and Navy in my family as well, so it’s the least I can do. Ronin and I are trying to show a bit more of our personalities in these, but we don’t want to come off as disrespectful or that we’re joking around too much given what we’re doing.

@susank9506

Жыл бұрын

@@VirginiaTombstoneRevival I'm so impressed with these videos and that you are teaching Ronan how to work. Thank you for your service in the Army and for being a police officer. I have such respect for police officers laying their lives on the line every day to protect us. To find out you are one makes me respect you even more. You should get some more D2, I watched Ronan clean the grave of the little three month old girl with just water, he did a great job and worked so hard, I was impressed!

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

Жыл бұрын

@@susank9506 I really appreciate all that you said. Most aren’t fans of us these days, but someone has to do it. As for Ronin….he loves a good workout, but definitely tests his ADHD in these videos.

It would still be an honorable name if you left the Veteran off. The honor you give each stone is a given, no matter who the recipient is. It would be acceptable with me. Thank you so very much for all you do and the honor and respect you show for each and every stone you clean.

Could have been due to something like Rh incompatibility that caused stillbirth.

"Pretty good work" just doesn't say it sir. It's an incredible act of kindness, God is happy, families are happy. You should be!!

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

Ай бұрын

You are so kind! Thank you for taking some of your time to give to us. We truly appreciate it.

Bonita labor la que haces,por más personas con el corazón como el tuyo, bendiciones ❤

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

6 ай бұрын

Muchas gracias por sus amables palabras.

Beautiful job. I'm sure the family would be pleased.

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

Жыл бұрын

I’d like to think so. Thank you for that though.

First thought was the Greene babies were not twins but siblings. You'd think twins would be buried together or side-by-side. There was probably several years separating their deaths. Amazing job, the first headstone didn't look too bad, but once you started scrubbing a lot of junk came off.

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

11 ай бұрын

This one really really stuck with me. It makes me sad to see the babies that never get named or even have a date of birth or passing. I know others have made comments in why they may not get named, and I fully understand that….but at the same time I can’t accept it as a father of 4 boys.

Very nice work here!

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

4 ай бұрын

Ronin and I appreciate it, guys.

Bless you🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🫶🏼🌹

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

2 ай бұрын

Thank you as always, Deborah

Thank you ❤

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

6 ай бұрын

It was my pleasure to clean these two off. Thank you for watching.

I can only assume this but these babies could have died before they were fully developed due to miscarriage. A friend of mine lost her baby in the 7th month head stone only said "Baby boy Thompson"

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

11 ай бұрын

Yeah it could have been any number of things. Sadly, I doubt there is any real answer out there without finding living relatives that may know the story.

@onthehill3381

2 ай бұрын

That was my guess. My brother buried two stillbirth children. They have unmarked graves though.

Virginia tombstone revival sounds good.

I admire what you do sir. I have subscribed 👍🤍🤍🇨🇦

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

11 ай бұрын

Welcome aboard! I try to post every few days unless my work schedule gets wonky and doesn’t allow me the time to either get ronin or go clean any stones.

What do you use

I was wondering if one could spray some type of sealer, after cleaning and letting a headstone dry

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

11 ай бұрын

I’m honestly not sure. I know some stone reacts differently to various chemicals….so I have no idea. Sounds like a cool idea though.

To answer your question. I have heard horse brushes are very good. 😊

What's you motivation? I live in New England and have visited some of the oldest cemetery's in the country. I like seeing the lichen on the stones and never seen any that are cleaned off like that.

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

11 ай бұрын

The motivation is to not let these kids and veterans names be lost to time.

Which cemetery were you at?

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

20 күн бұрын

This was Providence Cemetery in Gloucester

What do you use for cleaning your headstones? My brothers srone is rather ornate and in need of a good scrubbing but i dont want to damage it.

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

11 ай бұрын

The brushes we use are various nylon brushes. The one I use most I cut the bristles down shorter so they clean better as they don’t flex as much. They don’t damage though. Then we just use water and elbow grease. We used to use a product called D2, but I ran out of it last month and haven’t ordered anymore lately.

@victoriabagwell8426

11 ай бұрын

@@VirginiaTombstoneRevival is dish soap safe for granite

What you use

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

2 күн бұрын

It’s a product called D2. It’s a quaternary ammonium. Safe on stones and does the best at cleaning biological material and growth outside and in.

What are you cleaning this stones with, don't you need gloves?

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

Жыл бұрын

We start with water and then let them soak in D2 for a bit. I’m looking at trying a product called Orvus, but haven’t gotten it yet. As for the gloves….I have used them in some videos, but I find them more cumbersome than anything.

@Wosiewose

Жыл бұрын

@@VirginiaTombstoneRevival Is that the same Orvus that is used for washing old quilts and other delicate fibers? I don't have any D2, but I do have some Orvus and would be interested in cleaning the headstones of four generations of my husband's family who are buried nearby.

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

Жыл бұрын

@@Wosiewose I don’t know about it’s other uses to be honest, put it’s like a paste that blends with water.

@Wosiewose

Жыл бұрын

@@VirginiaTombstoneRevival That does sound like the same stuff!

Its not a tombstone its a headstone

@melissaerickson2607

Ай бұрын

Just so you are aware The word headstone was used as a synonym for cornerstone. Today, the word headstone is used to describe an upright stone situated at the head of a burial plot. The word tombstone used to describe the stone lid that was used as part of a stone coffin throughout the mid-16th century. The word gravestone was used to describe a large stone that was used to cover the top of a burial plot. The stone was often engraved with information about the deceased person. This may include their name, birth and death dates, and an epitaph. Each term, “headstone”, “gravestone” and “tombstone” used to have very different meanings that were clearly separate from one another. That is no longer the case now that time has seen all three terms evolve into the same meaning.❤

The boy doesn't care about the head stone being clean. Only you do

@VirginiaTombstoneRevival

21 күн бұрын

I definitely do care.

@KimberlyKestner

4 күн бұрын

Thank you for caring ​@@VirginiaTombstoneRevival