Submitted Photo This tombstone was found near Evans on Friday.

OBSERVER Staff Report

Normally, a beach cleanup involves the usual suspects: Trash, plastics, some tires as well as plenty of driftwood.

But last Friday, a group cleaning near Evans with Sharen Trembath, Lake Erie Coordinator of the Great Lakes Beach Sweep, retrieved an item never found before. “Everyone always asked me what is the most unusual item we have found on the beach sweep,” she said in an e-mail this week. “One of our volunteers found this tombstone on Sept. 6 on the shore in Evans.”

The name: Elmer M. Rudolph, a brigadier general of the U.S. Army during World War II. He died at 71 on March 21, 1969.

Other than what’s on the tombstone, there’s no other leads. “We’re looking for any information on how to return it to its proper place,” Trembath said.

Anyone with information can reach out to Trembath at 549-4330 or by email at trembath@bluefrog.com.