Revolutionary Graves Committee

The Virginia Society’s Revolutionary Graves Committee is responsible for encouraging and supporting chapters to register Revolutionary graves with the National Society, to update information about Revolutionary graves already registered with the National Society, and to place SAR grave markers at Revolutionary graves.

This Committee administers the Sustained Achievement Award for marking Revolutionary graves and the Program Accomplishment Award for registering and updating Revolutionary graves with the National Society SAR.

This committee is also responsible for encouraging the marking of graves of Patriots of the Revolution. This program is used to mark the graves of our patriot ancestors to honor them for their sacrifice in the birth of our country. It is desired that a SAR marker be installed (but not required) and an official ceremony held. An appropriate marker is available from National. The ceremony would include an emcee, a chaplain, color guard (can be one individual carrying a flag), speakers, musket salute (desired, not mandated), musician(s) (not required) and the patriot must be registered with the National Society Sons of the American Revolution Patriot Research System (SAR PRS).

This committee encourages each chapter in the Virginia Society to implement a Revolutionary War Graves program within the chapter. Every SAR member is encouraged to participate in the Revolutionary War Graves Program.

  • This committee is also responsible for encouraging the marking of graves of deceased SAR compatriots by chapters and activities such as cleaning up a Revolutionary patriot’s grave, obtaining a Veterans Administration monument for a Revolutionary veteran, and placing flags at the graves of Revolutionary patriots are examples of work that falls within the program, but is not in the scope of the committee. Chapters can report such activities on the Chapter Report Form and receive due credit towards Best Chapter and Chapter Excellence Awards.

Committee

  • Dale E. Corey (Chair) — Colonel James Wood II Chapter — [email protected]
  • C. Dennis Fritts (Fincastle Resolutions Chapter)
  • Randolph G. Atkins (Fort Harrison Chapter)
  • John Lynch (Williamsburg Chapter)
  • James T. "Jamie" Callender (George Washington Chapter)
  • Boyd V. Archer (Dan River Chapter)
  • Dwight B. Spangler (Dan River Chapter)

Resources

  • National SAR - Grave Marking Manual (version 7 dated 25 Mar 2020) [PDF]
  • National SAR - Patriot Grave Marking Medal Application [PDF, fillable form]
  • National SAR - Compatriot Grave Marking Medal Application [PDF, fillable form]