DAR involved in cemetery identification project

Ambitious project to photograph all grave markers to identify grave sites at Montana Veterans Home cemetery is underway by members of Bird Woman Falls Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter. Findagrave.com would be posted as an online Web site to assist with inquiries regarding veterans' and widows' graves at the cemetery.

DAR committee members spending a May Saturday afternoon at the cemetery were Carol Nicholson, Marge Fisher, Bonnie Flanney, Tracy Morsching, Gayle Newman, Juanita Tedrick and Debbie Tribble. Members of the Children of the American Revolution assisting were Brianna and Nick Morsching and Emily Nicholson. Bill Butts, Sons of the American Revolution member, assisted with locating flat markers in the ground, weed eating and cleaning areas.

Ladies photographed each section of the Veterans Home cemetery with interesting results. One person had two markers, one had the wrong marker, and third, Louis Parent, was missing a marker. Margaret Martin died in April 1919, was buried in the cemetery, did not have a marker. There are graves of veterans dating back to the Civil War.

Carol Nicholson met with Montana Veterans Home Memorial Foundation members and described DAR's cemetery project. She also explained Veterans Administration would not purchase a marker for Margaret Martin as she was not a veteran. Foundation members agreed to purchase the marker.

DAR members will continue to keep cemetery photos up to date. Flathead Valley Community College has been contacted to provide a class doing a community service project to map the entire cemetery. Photographing Woodlawn Cemetery is a another project scheduled. Cleaning highway project from north of Wendy's on LaSalle to Apple Barrel is accomplished with two other groups.

Bird Woman Falls Chapter of DAR was organized in June 2007 at Columbia Falls. Meetings are held second Saturdays of each month at either North Valley Senior Center or Whitefish Library community room at either 10 a.m. or noon. Time and place may be obtained by calling 892-2952. New members are welcome.

Tracy Morsching, DAR Chapter regent, is interested in forming a CAR Chapter in the Flathead Valley area. SAR is also interested in forming a local chapter to become involved with community projects. There are 11 DAR chapters in Montana with approximately 450 members.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.