“Why Marking Patriot Graves is Kind of a Big Deal (and Not Just for the Dead)”

Let’s face it—grave markings don’t sound glamorous. Sometimes it’s sword drills, musket fire, or dramatic Color Guard entrances – but other times, not. Either way — trust me—it’s one of the most powerful things the Sons of the American Revolution can do.

When we mark a patriot’s grave, we’re not just placing a plaque — we’re placing respect. Eternal, bronzed, ‘can’t-miss-it’ respect. It’s like saying, “Hey, we see you, Revolutionary War soldier who froze at Valley Forge and still showed up to fight. You didn’t do all that so future generations could forget your name.”

It’s about honor—but with some historical detective work thrown in. Think of it as National Treasure, but with less Nicolas Cage and more genealogy. We research, locate, confirm, and then we show up in full 18th-century glory, usually causing at least one kid to ask, “Is this a time travel thing?”

And honestly? That’s the magic. Marking a grave transforms a quiet patch of grass into a history lesson. It connects the local park or churchyard with the battlefields of the Revolution. It turns “some guy buried here” into “a man who helped build a nation.” That’s no small upgrade.

Plus, it’s a reminder that freedom didn’t fall out of the sky. It came from real people—some of them maybe buried nearby, practically in your back yard—who fought, risked, and dreamed big. We mark their graves not because we’re stuck in the past, but because we’re carrying it forward, one marker at a time.

So while the granite might be still, the message is loud:

“This man stood up for liberty. Let’s stand up and remember him.”

PHOTOS: taken by Tracy Pounders. Grave marking for Revolutionary War Patriot William Gates, 1759-1826, buried in Washington on the Brazos, Texas. Joint ceremony between the Texas Society SAR, Freedom Chapter SAR and the Coushatti Trace Chapter DAR. Held on November 16th, 2024 – Header photo of the SAR Color Guard under then Southern Commander David Hammaker. Middle Right, same event, close up of the marker. Lowest picture – Grave marking of Revolutionary War Patriot William Blevins, buried in Clarksville TX (it rained that day so the ceremony took place inside of the First Presbyterian Church – weather later cleared and we were able to visit the site – see marker). Earlier the same day we marked the grave of Revolutionary War Patriot Evan Thomas Watson, 1759-1834, buried in Maud, Texas.