Fincastle Resolutions

On Saturday, August 15th, Fincastle Resolutions Chapter President Reverdy Wright, Chancellor Tucker Lemon, and Color Guardsmen Dennis Fritts and John Skillman participated in a ceremony to dedicate the newly discovered gravesite of Revolutionary War Private George Sowers. Fincastle Resolutions was the only heritage society represented. The ceremony was orchestrated by Tom King, founder of Fallen Heroes of Floyd, a project to identify and honor veterans resting in Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Floyd. (http://www.fallenheroesoffloyd.org)

But the full story is more complex and interesting. Private Sowers’ headstone had been stolen and appeared at a yard sale, where it was recognized by a member of the church, who purchased it and returned it to the church. However, no one knew the location of the grave in the old part of the cemetery, so the headstone was placed in the basement of the church. Just before Memorial Day, Tom King received an email from Ken Brown, third great-grandson of Private Sowers, who gave Tom the approximate location of the grave. Probing the area with a four-inch spike, Tom found Private Sowers’ bronze foot-marker, which had been furnished some years ago by the Veteran’s Administration, buried under two inches of dirt.

After announcing this discovery, Tom then found the headstone in the church basement and placed it in its proper place. He added drainage to the foot-marker to prevent it from disappearing again. The gravesite was rededicated with four generations of Private Sowers’ descendants in attendance, all coming from North Carolina for the event. Also attending was the local Virginia Delegate. Colors were presented and retired by our Guardsmen and a prayer was offered by the chaplain of the Floyd VFW Chapter. Reverdy Wright presented our wreath and a salute was given by all present to honor Private Sowers. Efforts are underway to locate the grave of a second Revolutionary War veteran named Rutrough, which is known to be in the same cemetery.