A quiet yet deeply moving ceremony at the Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home marked the completion of a mission to honor and restore the graves of local veterans.
“They died for a purpose, and they deserve to be recognized and remembered,” said Tony Mazza.
We spoke with Mary Jane Koenig, who began this mission three years ago. Her dedication was sparked by a simple yet powerful realization during a Wreaths Across America event.
“In the past, during Wreaths Across America, you’re supposed to say the veteran’s name aloud — but sometimes, you couldn’t even read the names,” Koenig explained. “I thought, ‘I know what to do. I’ve been trained professionally.’”
That realization led to a three-year effort to clean and restore over a thousand grave markers. For Koenig and 150 volunteers, this work is about more than preserving stone — it’s about preserving memory.
“It’s a way to honor all veterans, not just those at rest,” she said.
Volunteers explained that it can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes to fully clean and restore a single headstone — a labor of love they’ve committed to week after week.
“me and my wife have probably done about 300 or 400,” said Mazza.
“The feeling you get when you’re here — that this place is appreciated by the families — it’s incredibly moving,” Koenig added.
