Most of us understand why it is so important
to preserve and maintain sites like Confederate Hill. You might have a few questions about why we
are going about it as we are. Let me
anticipate some of your concerns.
Why aren't you using replacement stones
provided free of charge by the Department of Veterans Affairs?
VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
stones are shaped differently from the original markers found on Confederate Hill.
There are already a few on the Hill and the difference is very obvious. In an
effort to preserve the historic look of Confederate Hill, we chose to use
12" x 12" granite stones placed level with the ground in front of any
existing original marker. VA stones that can be placed level with the ground
are too large for the available space in most cases.
In addition, the Department of Veterans
Affairs will only provide a “free” marker in cases where no marker exists.
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“The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes upon
request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for
the unmarked grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around
the world, regardless of their date of death. The VA may also provide a
headstone or marker for graves that are marked with a private headstone or
marker, for veterans that died on or after November 1, 1990. http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmelig.asp |
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The vast majority of graves in need of a readable mark on Confederate Hill do not qualify. Most have a marker. That marker is simply unreadable. Even if a new upright VA stone could be acquired, the cemetery would charge a $260.00 installation fee. This fee would not be tax-deductible.
Can I adopt any Confederate on the
hill?
Yes. Exceptions: Those interred in private burial plots, those with
existing VA or other special markers, or those who have already been adopted,
will be unavailable. As a result, if
you have a particular soldier you would prefer to adopt, I would advise you to
get your selection in soon. When making your selection, please keep in
mind that we would like to see new stones go first to those with a missing or
unreadable marker.
How do I adopt a Confederate?
Simply select a soldier that has not yet been
chosen and make a $200.00 tax-deductible donation to cover the cost of
the engraved marker. (See
below for more information.) This
donation amounts to just 55 cents a day over the course of a year. Loudon Park Cemetery is producing these
stones at cost and the friends and members of the Gilmor
Camp, SCV, are installing the stones themselves in order to reduce the cost
further.
What happens when I adopt a
Confederate?
You will receive a certificate of thanks that
will include your name or the name of you organization, the name of the soldier
you've adopted and the unit(s) in which he served. You will also receive a
letter indicating the amount of your donation, which is tax-deductible.
You will also receive an invitation to attend the dedication of your marker at
a ceremony conducted annually at Confederate Hill, Loudon Park Cemetery in
Baltimore.