Retired Colonie man helps restore old gravestones for veterans

MENANDS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- There are more than 130,000 burial plots within the Albany Rural Cemetery. For the last few years, a local man has taken it upon himself to make sure the older sections of the cemetery, where veterans were laid to rest, are properly cared for and preserved.

The cemetery was founded in 1841. Visitors who look around are bound to see dozens of different names that are easily recognizable. But retired Colonie resident Marc Platt happens to know more than just their names. "This is Cpt. Robert Bell. He was killed in the Civil War," Platt pointed out. "I noticed there were a lot of military ones that were neglected. There was no one alive to take care of their stones."

Platt has been on a mission to lift up their legacies and honor veterans. "I was never in the service, but I had a lot of relatives that were WWII and stuff. I said that's the least I can do is clean the stones," he explained.

Some of the stones he's unearthed date back to the early 1800s. "Some of them were killed in Civil War," Platt added. "This is a federal issue. They're usually rounded or flat top."

Platt spends hours cleaning, scrubbing and restoring. Along the way, he's been documenting history, setting in stone their sacrifices and service to the country. He's managed to put American flags next to nearly 200 gravestones over the last few years, securing them down with PVC pipes.

Platt is so dedicated to his work that he's become a fixture on the grounds. "He is always here. For a while, he was at Section One. That was the oldest section. All of those stones were neglected," said Stephanie Fischer, a volunteer at Albany Rural Cemetery.

At 72 years of age, Platt spends nearly every day, rain or shine, on his mission to preserve pieces of the past and make sure that a veteran's service is not lost to time. He said, "I'll keep doing it as long as I can keep doing it."

His efforts have also helped restore an old plot for one of the older volunteer fire companies in Albany owned by Engine Company 8. On May 22, the Albany Firefighters Museum will hold a rededication ceremony to honor their fallen members.