By Mike Newall

Inquirer Staff Writer

The students discovered the soldiers' gravestones by chance. They were cleaning up a filthy East Camden park three weeks ago when one of their rakes scratched something hard in the grass.

Nerline Petion, 17, a Woodrow Wilson High School junior, kicked away some broken glass and food wrappers and dug her shovel into the soil. A white slab became visible. Another student brushed away the dirt with a big bristle broom.

The faded stone dated from the 1800s.