Recently, Frank Peirano and Larry Elsasser have worked to repair or replace over 800 Veteran and VFW Auxillary grave markers within the Russell City and Lutheran Cemeteries.
Frank Peirano, a member of the Lutheran Cemetery committee and Russell City Council, noticed that many of the Veteran markers were in poor condition and that the placement of the markers was causing increased maintenance time for cemetery workers. Peirano contacted Larry Elsasser, a Veteran and machinist, in hopes of repairing some of the markers, and finding a better way to display them to honor deceased Veterans. Together, Peirano and Elsasser have been working since last fall to create an amazing tribute to so many.
Elsasser served in the United States Army, spending three years in Germany from 1963-1966, and is a life member of the VFW. Elsasser noted that the old markers included steel rods, which had become rusted and were in very poor condition. He recommended using aluminum as an alternative, to which he, with the help of his wife Bonita, machined each individual rod to fit the repairable markers, or those that were in such poor condition, had to be replaced. Once rods are attached to the markers, they are then ready to be placed graveside. For the graves with concrete bases, holes were drilled and the markers were then glued so that they are new permanently placed next to the headstone. For the graves without concrete bases, the markers were placed as closely as possible to the stone, to ensure easy maneuvering for those doing maintenance at the cemetery.
Through the process of this project, Pierano and Elsasser identified many graves that were not properly marked, and have added Veteran markers to honor them. They also replaced 30 grave markers of soldiers who fought for the Grand Army of the Republic in the Civil War and eight grave markers of Spanish-American. In an effort to honor those that support Veterans, nearly 100 grave markers for the Women of the VFW Auxiliary have also be repaired or replaced.
The grave marks have been placed uniformly throughout the cemetery, so that they are now easily visible and may most honorably represent the service of those that have passed.
Peirano and Elsasser are requesting that they be notified if a Veteran was not identified through the completion of this project. Please contact Larry Elsasser at elsasser@media-net.net for more information.