The Mount Vernon Cemetery Commission has done two of the things they set out to do this year – start cleaning and fixing headstones and honoring past veterans from the War of 1812.

A year after the discovery of two War of 1812 veterans buried in the Mount Vernon Cemetery by Tony Townsend, an active member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the commission started the work looking into the background of the two plots.

Robert B. Mitchell and James Holman were two veterans who were laid to rest in the cemetery in Block One, the oldest part of Mount Vernon Cemetery in the spring of 1872. That was also the first year the City of Mount Vernon took over responsibility for the cemetery grounds.

Both men’s burial sites were found by commission members, with Holman’s taking longer to find where it should be.

This fall, Townsend was able to have two white marble headstones, like those used at Arlington Cemetery, installed to honor those War of 1812 veterans, and a small crowd witnessed the installation and dedication to those veterans.

“May the names ascribed upon these markers for Robert and James be a perpetual reminder of their service. Also as a sacred summons to all souls – our own and all who come after us – of daring to live life for a purpose greater than self alone. For the pursuit of happiness, for all” Catherine Quehl Engel said.

It’s a testament to the work of the commission that so much was tackled for the cemetery this year to honor those who have gone on before us.