As America reflects on its 250th anniversary,
preserving the stories of those who fought for our nation's freedom has never been more meaningful. Through the dedicated work of Remembering, Restoring, and Preserving (RRaP), those stories continue to live on.
Founded by Brenda Tolle, Neil Reinsmoen, and Linda Surls, RRaP was built on a simple mission: to ensure that no veteran is forgotten. What began as a small restoration effort has now reached an incredible milestone with the restoration of its 1,000th veteran gravestone.
For Tolle, who is a veteran herself, this mission is deeply personal. "No man should be forgotten," she says. "Those who came before us are the reason we are here enjoying the freedoms that come with being American."
With more than 300 cemeteries throughout Greene County, many abandoned or forgotten, RRaP continues restoring veterans' graves, documenting family histories, and preserving the stories that shaped our community.
As Tolle so powerfully reminds us, "It is said a man dies twice: once when he stops breathing, and secondly when his name is no longer spoken. Never forget, lest history repeat itself."
As we commemorate America 250,
this milestone serves as a powerful reminder that honoring our nation's history extends far beyond celebrations; it requires action. Every gravestone restored is a promise that a veteran's service will be remembered, their story preserved, and their sacrifice honored.
Greene Giving is proud to support RRaP as an affiliate, ensuring that future generations can walk among these cemeteries, read these names, and understand that the freedoms we enjoy today were secured by those who came before us. Their legacy deserves not only to be remembered, but to be protected for generations to come.
Tolle summarizes, “Our legacy will be in the eyes of the beholder when they arrive at a cemetery over 200 years old and see their loved ones resting place standing tall and proud. Or they open Findagrave.com and are pleasantly surprised with a photograph or biography of a long deceased ancestor.”
