Thought this might be of interest to someone. Nancy English Heil SC, USA > VA Seeks Volunteers To Inventory Its Cemetery Memorials > > WASHINGTON (November 24, 2003) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is > seeking volunteers to research and photograph monuments in its 120 national > cemeteries and 33 soldiers' lots. > > "We have a large number of cemetery memorials, large and small, remaining to > be inventoried," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. > "The efforts of dedicated volunteers will assist VA in maintaining all > national cemeteries as national shrines." > > When VA's memorials inventory project began in May 2002, it was estimated > that 300 memorials would be found in national cemeteries and soldiers' lots. > To date, nearly 800 memorials have been identified with help from over 220 > volunteers. Approximately 300 memorials in 20 states remain to be > documented and VA will continue to recruit volunteers for the project until > all are documented. > > VA provides volunteers with project instructions, survey questionnaires and > film. Volunteers take measurements and photographs, record inscriptions, > make notes on a monument's condition and conduct historical research. The > project has attracted a wide range of people, including students, teachers, > scout groups, active and retired military members, scholars, history > professionals and enthusiasts. The information obtained from the project > will be made available to the public through the Smithsonian Institute's art > inventory database. > > VA is now in the largest expansion of the national cemetery system since the > Civil War. Three national cemeteries have opened since 2000, and five more > national cemeteries are now being built. > > For additional information about the project or to volunteer, please contact > historian Darlene Richardson at (202) 565-5426 or email > nca.memorials@mail.va.gov. > > > Bruce G. Nitsche > Veterans Liaison to the Secretary > Department of Veterans Affairs > Office of Intergovernmental Affairs > 3033 Winkler Extension > Room 747 > Fort Myers, FL 33916 > (239) 931-6135 (voice) > (239) 851-0057 (cell) > (239) 931-6136 (fax) > > >