The rows of headstones in the Salt Lake City Cemetery veterans section once stood proud and straight, like soldiers at attention.

Over the years, they have lost a little of that discipline. Many of the 36-inch-high grave markers have slipped, slumped or sunk — the result of weather, poor footings and burrowing animals — and veterans' groups and state and city leaders hope to raise the money needed to fix the area up.

"The image we would like to have is Arlington (National) Cemetery," said state Division of Veterans Affairs director Terry Schow. "We want no less than that standard."

The owners of grave sites — typically family members of the deceased — are responsible for their upkeep. But with service members from wars dating back to the 1898 Spanish-American War buried there, over the generations many headstones have become neglected.

About 1,000 headstones are in need of straightening or other fixes. The city estimates the cost could be as high as $250 per headstone.

"My hope is it could be done for far less than that, but even if it's half that amount, that's still a pretty good chunk of change," Schow said.

Part of the division's fund-raising effort includes asking for donations from individuals, businesses or other groups. Checks can be sent to the Utah Division of Veterans Affairs, 550 Foothill Drive #202, Salt Lake City, UT 84113. Include an indication that the donation is for the veterans' cemetery project.

For more information, call 801-326-2372, e-mail tcknight@utah.gov or visit www.veterans.utah.gov. Organizers are also looking for donations of time and materials.

City Councilman Dave Buhler is also considering asking his fellow council members to budget some money to help with the project. He is unsure how much that would be — it depends how much can be raised from other sources — but it could be as much as $100,000.

"It should look like Arlington, but it looks like a junk heap in some places," Buhler said.

He said he likely will also ask for help from state and county governments and perhaps from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

Buhler said he has not spoken to his fellow council members yet to get a sense of how supportive they would be of the idea. He is optimistic but acknowledges that there could be some sticking points.

"It does raise other issues, to be fair. There's a lot of old markers (in other sections of the cemetery) that are in disrepair. We don't have any funds to provide perpetual care," Buhler said. "I feel like the veterans are a special category."

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com