By Jessica Easthope
A father and son are brushing up on history by brushing off the past.
Armed with brushes, scrapers, and a special cleaning solution, Zach Leonard and his 10-year-old son Lincoln have taken on an unusual summer project at Calvary Cemetery, a Catholic cemetery in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
They’re restoring long-neglected headstones to their former glory.
“I think it’s important to resolve history,” Lincoln said. “Doesn’t mean if you don’t, it’s gonna get lost. And to know your past is very important.”
What started as a curiosity became a calling.
The Leonards came to Calvary Cemetery looking for roots, but found themselves planting seeds of remembrance.
“We found out that I had a great-grandfather, his great-great-grandfather, who was a veteran of World War I and World War II,” Zach said.
That great-grandfather was James Leonard, buried somewhere in these sprawling grounds, but finding him was just the beginning.
“We could really only make out the A-M-E-S of the James,” Zach said. “You couldn’t really see Leonard, and we were like we should clean this.”
Armed with determination and a bit of elbow grease, father and son set out to unveil other stories etched in stone.
“It’s really an incredible feeling because you’ve come there to honor someone, and it’s almost like they’re coming to life a little bit,” Zach said.
For this father and son, it’s about more than just cleaning headstones. It’s about connecting with history and each other.
“I hope that he learns that acts of kindness don’t require an organization or require donations,” Zach said. “Even if it’s something small, everything makes a difference in some way,” Lincoln said. “It can affect a lot of people.”
In a place where time stands still, two generations are ensuring that those who came before us will always shine bright.
“It’s easy to do really if you’re just willing to take the time,” Zach said.
Calvary Cemetery has been around since 1854, and spans 470 acres with over 300,000 graves.
It’s the final resting place for many notable figures, including General William Tecumseh Sherman and Dred Scott, but the Leonards are restoring every headstone, celebrity status or not.