05/29/2026
When Mark contacted the foundation for help with his toppled relative’s monument, we said no. KIDDING! But we did say no when he asked if he could do it himself. Enter: foundation volunteers and our resetting equipment! We put on our shabbiest work clothes while Mark made the drive to Ohio from PA, and we gathered at his relative’s plot last Sunday.
To my high school physics teacher’s point (shoutout Western Reserve Academy), “Physics is Phun”! With the help of tripods, levers, and other science sorcery, the unimaginably heavy monument reconstruction process is an easy, albeit tedious afternoon project. Once we extract the sunken base, we add a new layer of proper stone and smoosh it (proper terminology). Then more leveling. AND WE UNLEASH THE KRAKEN, i.e. the tripod, for more science fun! We carefully strap the correct pressure points of the stone and crank ‘er up. Some bonus medical knowledge comes into play with the chain + “phalange pinch-points.” More leveling, and many, many half-centimeter placement opinions are debated (a great time to step back and take pics) before all straps and chains are ultimately loosened and behold! A beautifully placed and safe monument.
We are thankful for people like Mark who are looking out for their family’s resting place and were amazed by his ability to come from far away and get rough and dirty with us. While each resetting job is a lengthy process and we are but humble volunteers, we hope to grow interest in the community and do more frequent projects! Join us, won’t you?
