Days of recognition for veterans – past and present – are huge events in Minot, a community where the military is near and dear to our hearts.

Traditionally, Labor Day isn’t one of those days; instead having its very own focus.

This year, two brothers demonstrated that any holiday can be an occasion to honor fallen veterans.

Richard Reuer, a veteran, and his brother, Robert Reuer spent a good portion of their Labor Day at the Veterans Section at Rosehill Memorial Park. Maybe some of us even saw them out there, laboring away for fallen service members as we hurried off to a last lake day or a picnic somewhere.

The brothers use the Simple Green solution, which Reuer said works well to clean away all the soot, debris, mold and corrosion that has gathered over the years. Then the Reuers rinsed off the stone and sprayed the stone with D2, a nontoxic type of detergent. Over the next few weeks, the stone will gradually be bleached back to its natural color. The Simple Green and D2 solutions can be reapplied year to year and will help keep the markers clean and white.

There are about nine rows in that section of the cemetery and about 20 to 25 stones per row.

Richard Reuer said he hopes to have all of the stones white and gleaming by December, when people place wreaths on the headstones of veterans as part of the Wreaths Across America campaign.

Minot Daily News wishes the Reuers good luck and godspeed in their selfless and honorable project.