He\u2019s taken it upon himself to clean and restore the dilapidated graves and tombstones of forgotten veterans.<\/p>\n
Andrew Lumish\u2019s journey started in 2011 when he was capturing photographs at a historic cemetery in Downtown Tampa, Florida. He realized many veterans\u2019 graves were covered with dirt, mold, and mildew. Lumish told People:<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething struck me about the fact that the markers were in terrible condition, and it made me really angry that no one was able to care for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
After that, he trained himself on restoring the final resting places of veterans. Instead of watching football on Sundays, he dedicated his time to researching the restorative techniques and products used at National cemeteries in the U.S.<\/p>\n
DEDICATION & COMMITMENT<\/p>\n
Lumish has emerged as a creative cleaner over time. He spends hours scrubbing years of build-up, using different tools like Q-tips, toothbrushes, and soft bristle brushes to clean every nook and corner of the stonework.<\/p>\n
His one-person initiative expanded into a whole movement called \u201cThe Good Cemeterian Historical Preservation Project.\u201d<\/p>\n
On average, ultimately restoring a monument can take around four months. Astonishingly, Lumish has restored more than 600 graveyards and over 800 tombstones. The hardworking man feels upset whenever he sees a veteran\u2019s grave in a terrible state.<\/p>\n
APPRECIATION & PRAISE<\/p>\n
Often, the tombstones bear unreadable names and have become weathered and cracked from years of bad weather and neglect. Thanks to Lumish\u2019s efforts, people have come to know the brave men who died serving their country. He told NBC:<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel connected to them. And it\u2019s very important for me to be able to tell their story and I love to be able to show these individuals and show their accomplishments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many people have recognized Lumish\u2019s work, including the families of the fallen soldiers who appreciate him wholeheartedly. When World War II veteran Joe Lazzara\u2019s family discovered he had cleaned Lazzara\u2019s monument, they immediately reached out.<\/p>\n
A SPECIAL CONNECTION<\/p>\n
Lazzara\u2019s brother, Sam, was deeply moved by Lumish\u2019s efforts. He shared his thoughts in these words:<\/p>\n
\u201cGod brought him [Lumish] down to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lumish feels connected to every veteran buried in the cemeteries and makes conscious efforts to uncover their stories and share them with the world. Over time, he\u2019s posted the \u201cbefore\u201d and \u201cafter\u201d shots of his work on social media.<\/p>\n
THE GOOD CEMETERIAN<\/p>\n
Lumish wants people to know about the veterans who died protecting their country and fellow men by showcasing their incredibly moving life stories. In September 2015, his remarkable work was featured by ABC News.<\/p>\n
Soon, his story went viral, and he was dubbed \u201cThe Good Cemeterian,\u201d appearing on different media platforms. His one-person initiative expanded into a whole movement called \u201cThe Good Cemeterian Historical Preservation Project.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Good Cemeterian Historical Preservation Project aims to \u201crestore and honor the past through inspiration and education.\u201d Undoubtedly, Lumish is a kind-hearted soul who has dedicated his life to honoring the lives of forgotten veterans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
He\u2019s taken it upon himself to clean and restore the dilapidated graves and tombstones of forgotten veterans. Andrew Lumish\u2019s journey started in 2011 when he was capturing photographs at a historic cemetery in Downtown Tampa, Florida. He realized many veterans\u2019 graves were covered with dirt, mold, and mildew. Lumish told People: \u201cSomething struck me about…<\/p>\n