A Drumheller man has taken it upon himself to pay respect to veterans in a way he thinks shows respect. Eric Dahl has spent lots of time in Lacombe lately, cleaning up memorial sites for those that have served time for their country.

He has many friends and family attachments that have served for Canada at some point in his life, and he works hard to make sure that their resting sites stay bright and clean to this day.

“The only ones, who may think of taking care of veterans, are veterans.”

Said Dahl about why he takes the time to precisely clean up the detailed stone canvases.

“I truly believe that all of our freedoms that we enjoy today are paid for by our fore fathers and we need to remember this all the time and not just on Remembrance Day.”

He has to gain permission before cleaning the sites, but he says most graveyards are public for families to visit their loved ones; he encourages people to spend a little time cleaning them up and remembering them.

“I am more than willing to show people how it’s done so that they can learn how to do it themselves.”

He uses a delicate chemical and tools, even toothbrushes to get the job done.

 “I’m encouraging people to pick up what I do; it doesn’t take much to clean up the spots in the cemetery because a lot of them do get neglected.”

He also runs a business doing this kind of work called Memory Keepers Memorial Cleaning & Esthetics.

The hiring aspect comes when the work requires more attention, or he is asked to go far out of his way.

For veterans, he says he is willing to do the work for free.

“I love what I’m doing so much, I’m happy that people like what I’m doing, but I am hoping people begin to pick it up themselves, it doesn’t take much to do.”