Thanks to the herculean efforts of members of the James D Piper VFW Post 12118 and additional boots on the ground time and internet research by VFW member Rick Westberg and his wife VFW aux member Darrla, a complete list of veterans interned in the Copperopolis Cemetery has been created, along with maps and photos.
This information will be used for the placement of flags on each veteran's grave site at the VFW Post 12118 Memorial Day flag ceremony being held on May 26 at 10:00 am.
Veterans dating back to the Civil War have been laid to rest in the Copperopolis Cemetery.
One such veteran, John Braids, was a member of the GAR - the Grand Army of the Republic. The GAR was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, Marines and Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1886, the organization was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died. GAR was one of the first organized veteran advocacy groups in American politics, supporting voting rights for black veterans and lobbying the US Congress to establish veterans' pensions. Seemingly, the forefathers to modern day Veterans of Foreign Wars.
While researching the Westbergs also discovered the headstone of Geo W Bowie who died in Marne France in October 20, 1918. "With some time on the internet I was able to confirm that he indeed died in WWI in France from "bronco pneumonia". He was a Private in the 115th Trench Mortar Battery and the chances are good that his final resting place is in England with two of his cousins who also perished in WWI." Said Darrla.
Though the research hours were long, Darrla clearly found the experience rewarding, "Each and every headstone represents a story of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism. I am grateful for the opportunity to give them the respect they deserve."
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