I am having trouble replying to INPCRP, so Mark is forwarding this message for me.... I looked at the photos of this cemetery, and I was saddened to see the concrete and metal frames on the stones. If any research was done on the web, there would have been several sources that state concrete is a "do not do" thing. Concrete is basically irreversable. I have a very low sucess rate with removing a stone from concrete, and the hours involved are incredible. If I am unsure of what to do with a stone, I wait and do research. The stone is the number one priority. Madison Co has more than just this one cemetery with the stones set in concrete, so it is not just limited to a "one time deal". They have been doing this for a long time. Don't get me wrong, I see this in every county I go into. Most of the concrete work has been done many years ago. That is why we stress education so strongly, so it won't continue in this trend. I have seen too many stones where the concrete comes off, and you see the evidence of the salts in the concrete eating the stone away. Sure, concrete is quick and easy, but doing it the right way first would be much better. I always say that the problems in a cemetery are not what is readily visible, but what is below the surface, such as concrete. The cemetery may look pretty now, but in a few years, the stones will start snapping off from the pressure of the concrete. I am always looking for better ways to do restoration, so don't think that it's my way or no way. Just do the research first, PLEASE. Helen Wildermuth -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ .