ROCKLAND — Local Revolutionary War veterans will be getting the recognition they deserve thanks to the efforts of the Lady Knox Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, The American Legion and the caring attention of a local citizen. Fifteen bronze flag holders are missing from the graves of these local heroes who are buried in Rockland's Tolman Cemetery.

The flag holders were first noticed missing by concerned citizen Carl Mahoney, when he was examining the grave of Lt. Samuel Jennison. "[These men] could just as well be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. That they are among 'us' is both a gift and a responsibility," he comments. When he noticed the problem, Mahoney contacted the Lady Knox Chapter since the DAR is one of the many organizations that safeguards the history and honors the veterans in this area.

Members of the American Legion, often with the help of the Boy Scouts, make rounds on Memorial Day and Veterans Day to place American flags in flag holders at local cemeteries. However, only those graves with flag holders in place, next to the head stone, receive the honor.

Many of the bronze holders have been taken by thieves hoping to profit from the metal markers. In order to deter these thefts, a number of veterans' associations and cemetery associations are switching from bronze to heavy plastic or aluminum holders. The lower value of the material means they are easier to replace and less likely to be stolen, and they look much like the bronze holders.

Identifying the worn gravestones of these soldiers to determine whose flag holders are missing became a civic project. Mahoney related, "With some assistance from a trio of elementary schoolgirls around Memorial Day - all [sites] have been located and we determined that 15 flag holders are missing. We placed flags (without holders) at that time, but they won't hold up to the winter." In addition, he has posted photographs of all the grave stones on findagrave.com and the photos have GPS data embedded with them. "Thus, if it turns out a plot plan is no longer available, the GPS coordinates are there."

On July 29, 1947, the Maine State Organization of the DAR honored the twenty-one American Revolutionary War soldiers who are buried at Tolman Cemetery. These names are on a plaque that was placed at the entrance of the cemetery:

Jacob Achorn John Keen

Comfort Barrows Hugh Killsa, Lt.

Benjamin Blackington, Serg.Aaron Mossman

Darius Brewster David Nutt, Lt.

Zadoc Brewster Oliver Robbins, 2d

James FalesJonathan Spear, Capt.

William Gregory Curtis Tolman

Eliphaz Healey, Serg. Jeremiah Tolman

Samuel Jennison, Lt. Samuel Tolman

Jacob Keen, Sr. John Ulmer, Capt.

Jacob Keen, Jr.

Lady Knox Chapter will accept donations toward the cost of the new flag holders. The total amount needed is $110; this includes a few extras, in case they are required. Make checks out to "Lady Knox Chapter DAR" to: Treasurer, Anne Maurais, 1044 Finntown Rd. Warren, ME 04864.

Within the next few weeks Chapter members, with Mahoney's assistance, will put the markers next to the Revolutionary War veterans' grave stones at Tolman Cemetery.

The Winslow - Holbrook - Merritt Post 1 American Legion in Rockland supplies the flags for veterans' graves through funds from the city of Rockland. This Veterans Day, November 11, 2014, each of the twenty-one patriot soldiers at Tolman Cemetery will have an American Flag.