Cleaning Forgotten Veterans' Stones | Albany News

Albany News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 2, 2026 · 1m

Meet Katie DeRaddo, a history detective in Western New York who’s turning cemeteries into time capsules—gently cleaning forgotten headstones to resurrect stories buried under moss and time. Starting her project, A Grave Attraction, in 2022, she’s already restored 50 to 100 stones, focusing on veterans ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. With delicate tools and patient hands, she’s revealing names like Norbert Hens, a WWI soldier who died at 31, ensuring their sacrifices aren’t erased. She’s part of a larger effort—cemetery groups like Mount Calvary Heritage Foundation maintain acres of…