by Mike Matzinger
History lives on in cemeteries where stories from more than a century ago are often forgotten. Sixteen-year-old Parker Maybe, a Scout from Rose, New York, is working to change that by cleaning and restoring headstones across dozens of cemeteries.
In 2022, Maybe started “Gone Graving,” a YouTube channel that has since expanded across multiple social platforms. Through time-lapse restoration videos and historical research, he shares the stories behind the graves he restores, many of which belong to veterans, including Civil War soldiers. His work now spans nearly 50 cemeteries and has reached millions online.
As he plans his upcoming Eagle Scout service project, Maybe hopes to restore 50 more headstones, continuing his mission to give history a voice again.