LESSON ALONG THE WAY. IS THIS THE WAY YOU LEARNED IN HISTORY? THE STONES THAT FELL OVER I THE VETERAN STONES I RESEARCHED AND I’VE GOTTEN NEW STONES FOR THE CIVIL WAR VETERANS AND I’LL BE WORKING ON THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETERANS ON MOST DAYS. YOU’LL FIND WILLIAM BRAY AT THE HISTORIC BRUSH CREEK REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CEMETERY IN NORTH HUNTINGDON. HIS PASSION AND PATRIOTISM HAVE FUELED HIS MISSION. MY WAY OF PAYING BACK TO THE VETERANS THAT ARE BURIED HERE AND THEIR FAMILIES. BRAY CLEANS AND RESETS THE STONES, RESTORING THEM TO THEIR GLORY. THE BIG PROBLEM WITH THE CEMETERY IS THE FACT THAT THE STONES, MANY OF WHICH WERE FALLEN OVER OR JUST WORN WITH WEATHER, NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. AND IT WAS THROUGH A WEATHER INCIDENT THAT BILL GOT INVOLVED IN ALL ABOUT 100 STONES NEED ATTENTION. WILLIAM MORE THAN HAPPY TO ACCEPT THE CALL FOR CARE. I ACTUALLY SPENT LAST 4TH OF JULY UP HERE REPAIR WEARING THE FLAG HOLDERS ON ALL THE VETERANS GRAVES BECAUSE THE WIND CATCHES THEM AND THEY START WOBBLING ON THE STICKS. HIS GOAL TO HAVE AT LEAST 20 HEADSTONES RESET BY MEMORIAL DAY. HE’S EVEN STARTED A SPONSOR, A STONE PROGRAM WHERE DONATIONS CAN HELP TO DEFRAY THE COST OF THE MATERIALS. A LOT OF SMALL CEMETERIES LIKE THIS ARE FORGOTTEN ABOUT AND NOT PAID ATTENTION TO. AND THEY’RE NOT FORGOTTEN. WELL, BILL HAS BEEN A GODSEND TO THE CEMETERY. NOW, EVENTUALLY, BRAY WOULD LIKE TO GET THE GROUND SCANNED WITH PENETRATING RADAR AND HAVE A DIGITAL MAP MADE OF THE GRAVES THERE. A QR CODE AT THE ENTRANCE WOULD LEAD FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHERS TO THE BURIAL PLACES. NOW, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR A STONE, CHECKS CAN BE SENT TO FRIENDS OF THE OLD BRUSHCREEK CEMETERY. 90 RAMALEY ROAD IN HARRISON CITY WILL PUT THAT INFORM
Caretaker with passion for history cleans, restores veterans' headstones at North Huntingdon cemetery
'Sponsor a stone' program seeks donations for ongoing effort at Brush Creek Cemetery
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Updated: 11:18 PM EDT May 27, 2023
It's a labor of love at a Westmoreland County cemetery. One by one, a man is restoring headstones, many of them veterans from the Revolutionary and Civil wars.On most days, you'll find William Bray at the historic Brush Creek Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery in North Huntingdon. His passion and patriotism have fueled his mission."It's just a way of learning history," cemetery sexton/caretaker William Bray said. "The stones that fell over, I researched them, and I have gotten new stones for the Civil War veterans and I'll be working on the Revolutionary War veterans."Bray cleans and resets the stones, restoring them to their glory. He said it's "my way of paying back to the veterans who are buried here and their families.""The big problem is the fact that the stones, many of which were fallen over or just worn with weather, needed to be repaired, and it was through a weather incident that Bill got involved," said Carl Huszar, president of the Norwin Historical Society.In all, about 100 stones need attention."I actually spent last Fourth of July up here repairing the flag holders on all the veterans' graves, because the wind catches them and they start wobbling on the sticks," Bray said.He is more than happy to accept the call for care."A lot of small cemeteries like this are forgotten about and not paid attention to, and they're not forgotten," Bray said."Bill has been a godsend to the cemetery," Huszar said.Bray's goal is to have at least 20 headstones reset by Memorial Day. He has also started a "sponsor a stone" program for donations to defray the cost of the materials.Checks can be sent to: Friends of the Old Brush Creek Cemetery90 Raymaley Rd.Harrison City, PA 15636
NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. — It's a labor of love at a Westmoreland County cemetery. One by one, a man is restoring headstones, many of them veterans from the Revolutionary and Civil wars.
On most days, you'll find William Bray at the historic Brush Creek Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery in North Huntingdon. His passion and patriotism have fueled his mission.
"It's just a way of learning history," cemetery sexton/caretaker William Bray said. "The stones that fell over, I researched them, and I have gotten new stones for the Civil War veterans and I'll be working on the Revolutionary War veterans."
Bray cleans and resets the stones, restoring them to their glory. He said it's "my way of paying back to the veterans who are buried here and their families."
"The big problem is the fact that the stones, many of which were fallen over or just worn with weather, needed to be repaired, and it was through a weather incident that Bill got involved," said Carl Huszar, president of the Norwin Historical Society.
In all, about 100 stones need attention.
"I actually spent last Fourth of July up here repairing the flag holders on all the veterans' graves, because the wind catches them and they start wobbling on the sticks," Bray said.
He is more than happy to accept the call for care.
"A lot of small cemeteries like this are forgotten about and not paid attention to, and they're not forgotten," Bray said.
"Bill has been a godsend to the cemetery," Huszar said.
Bray's goal is to have at least 20 headstones reset by Memorial Day. He has also started a "sponsor a stone" program for donations to defray the cost of the materials.
Checks can be sent to:
Friends of the Old Brush Creek Cemetery
90 Raymaley Rd.
Harrison City, PA 15636
