The Alabama National Cemetery, located just south of Birmingham in Montevallo, is a place of purpose and deep history. It serves as a national shrine for veterans, including soldiers who served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The 479-acre cemetery includes a public information center, memorial walkway, columbarium, committal shelters, and administrative and maintenance facilities, designed to ensure care for future generations. It was created in response to the 2003 National Cemetery Expansion Act, which authorized new national cemeteries in underserved areas, and it officially opened for burials in 2009.
Recently, I accompanied my daughter, Harper, some of her schoolmates, and other parents—including my Army and Iraqi war veteran husband, Matthew—to the cemetery, where we gathered for a meaningful service project: cleaning the marble headstones. The event was led by caretaker Herman Watkins, a former Navy administrative officer who served 28 years and now dedicates his days to preserving the dignity of this sacred ground. Assisting him was cemetery foreman Brian Hudson, an Air Force veteran. The men gave a short orientation and helped guide students in military burial protocol and proper cleaning techniques, explaining that each marker represents a life of service and sacrifice, and cleaning those markers is one way to honor those contributions.
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Stephanie Gibson Lepore
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Navy veteran Herman Watkins taught us the meaning of coins on the headstones. A penny signifies a visit; a nickel means the visitor and veteran trained together at boot camp; a dime means they served together; and a quarter, the most poignant, indicates the visitor was with the service member when they died.
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Veteran Navy administrative officer Herman Watkins and cemetery foreman Brian Hudson speak to the group.
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We were assigned a section of markers and given brushes and buckets of soapy water, which the students used to remove dirt and debris. I loved watching the kids work together side by side. During the cleanup, an active funeral procession passed through the cemetery and, as instructed by Mr. Herman, students and volunteers paused in silence while the veterans saluted until the procession was complete. We were told the cemetery holds multiple burials each day, sometimes up to eight or nine.
We worked together and, about an hour later, the white marble markers gleamed under the sun. More importantly, the children left with a deeper understanding of national service, respect, and remembrance. Projects like this allow younger generations to connect and understand the gravity of the past and reflect on it with gratitude. We can’t wait to return to the Alabama National Cemetery next month to help lay wreaths on graves for the holiday season.