Armed with a list of veterans and small American flags, Peggy Scates and June Head braved some very unpredictable weather Tuesday in Dolores to visit rural cemeteries.
They stopped at the Old Dolores Cemetery, located at the west end of Central Avenue behind McPhee Reservoir, and began searching.
They scanned headstones, grave markers and even peered into weeds and brush hoping to place a flag at the grave of every veteran just in time for Memorial Day. During their roughly two-hour-long search, it rained, the wind blew, it was cold and then it was warm, for a bit.
Neither the weather nor the tall weeds deterred Scates and Head from their mission, something members of the Sleeping Ute Mountain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution have been doing for years: paying respect to veterans at area rural cemeteries.
Our group is deeply patriotic, and we felt the rural cemeteries didnt get the attention they needed, Head said.
On Tuesday, 26 flags were placed in Dolores.
Since 1994 Head has worked to research the graves of local veterans. Most members of the Daughters of the American Revolution on the eastern part of the United States research soldiers that served in the American Revolution. Out west, the Sleeping Ute Mountain Chapter of the DAR decided to research those in local cemeteries that served in the Civil War instead.
Over here, we are several hundred years too late, Head said.
After the Civil War, many people came out West, Scates said.
Yes, because Colorado opened up to homesteading, Head said.
But while researching veterans, stories and history slowly unveiled and the DAR was able to secure headstones for many veterans who did not have proper ones and tell the stories of others.
There is the story of William Clark (1847-1932), who served in the Union Forces in the Civil War. Head researched the story behind Clark and found a remarkable one. His service carried him over to serve with General Custer.
But on June 25, 1876, when his company entered eastern Montana Territory near Little Bighorn River, Clark was absent.
He was on official business away from his company, Head said.
Otherwise, Clark, would have died there along with Custer and his men during Custers Last Stand.
He returned, finding the entire command dead at the hands of the Indians, Head said.
He died at a ranch on the Dolores River.
Scates placed a small flag at the grave stone.
Then there is the story of William P. Mann (1821 to 1907). He was also in the Civil War.
He was one of the trailblazers in Colorado, Head said.
He was in the First Colorado Calvary and a hospital attendant or nurse during the war.
He died in a home in the Upper Mildred community (near Lebanon today) in 1907 at the old age of 86.
Then there is the story of George B. May, who served on a ship and was a Confederate during the Civil War.
The DAR found his site was simply marked by a large boulder, his name engraved on the side.
The DAR, along with local resident Jim Davenport, secured a proper headstone from the Veterans Affairs Office for this veteran.
Head said during research she found out there were many veterans without headstones, so she, along with others would do the research, turn in the paperwork to the VA and hoped a headstone would be sent to mark their grave, something the VA no longer does, Head explained.
After about 900 hours of research, Head said the group was able to install 22 new grave markers, before the practice of providing headstones stopped.
We think it is very important to remember anybody who served our country as a soldier, Head said. These little flags are a way to do that and can stay year round.
The group also removed old, faded flags to be given to the American Legion to be burned at the flag retirement ceremony.
What we do is very important, and its only about 50 cents a flag, she said. Its also that we continue to do it, no matter what.
