Cemetery to repair damaged gravestones

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – We have an update on the storm damage at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Officials say the damage occurred Sunday, and 16 trees on the property were affected.

A large tree that has fallen at the Chattanooga National Cemetery and has damaged several gravestones.

Most of the tree damage has been cleaned up, but outside contractors will have to come in to clean out the large tree that has caused damage to some gravestones.

They do not have an exact count of damaged gravestones but believe up to 80 families are affected.

They have found at least one gravestone that was broken.

The interim director for the cemetery, Mishelle Kochel, said, “We will go through, we will do a full assessment of any damage, any headstones that may be broken. We will reorder any headstone that we have to, to ensure that their loved one’s gravesite is maintained, as they expect it.”

Any family who is affected will be notified by the cemetery office.

Kochel added several of the gravestones affected are historic and date back to the Civil War.

She said this may be a lengthy process that may require a contractor to bring in a crane to remove the fallen tree.