Local Life Scout honors Civil War veterans with Dundee cemetery restoration project

Life Scout Josh Bourbon of Troop 32 in West Dundee recently completed a community service project dedicated to preserving local history and honoring fallen soldiers.

Josh and a team of volunteers spent morning of Saturday, Oct. 18, cleaning more than a dozen historic headstones and the Civil War monument located in the Dundee Township Cemetery, which honors the soldiers from the Dundee area who gave their lives to preserve the Union during the Civil War.

The project was sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, General Philip H. Sheridan Camp #2, based in Aurora. Troop 32 is sponsored by VFW Post 2298 of West Dundee in Three Fires Council in St. Charles.

Josh also partnered with Dundee Township and the Dundee Township Historical Society, working closely with both organizations to gain their support and approval for the restoration work.

A key focus of Josh’s project was the careful cleaning and preservation of the Civil War monument itself. Volunteers used D/2 Biological Solution, the same cleaning agent used by the U.S. government on national monuments and historic buildings, including those at Arlington National Cemetery.

This specialized cleaner safely removes biological growth such as algae and lichen, helping to brighten and protect the stone without causing damage. The effort restored the monument’s original luster while ensuring it will remain preserved for years to come.

“This cemetery is really close to home,” Josh said. “I wanted to honor those that preserved our nation by cleaning the monument and their Civil War headstones, and I wanted to help out my community.”

Under Josh’s leadership, a group of about 15 volunteers worked for roughly four hours, carefully cleaning and restoring grave markers and the Civil War monument. The effort brought renewed dignity to the site, ensuring that the memory of those who fought to reunite the country endures for future generations.

Matt Clark, who represented the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War as the project sponsor, praised Bourbon’s dedication.

“We appreciate Josh and his efforts to remember those who died in battle to reunite the country at a time of great divide,” Clark said. “We’re grateful for all his volunteers and the meaningful work they accomplished.”

Josh’s project not only fulfilled a key requirement toward earning the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouting America, but also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of honoring the past through service to the community.