Grave Marking
There are undoubtedly thousands of Revolutionary War Patriots buried in what is now the State of Louisiana. Most of these would be members of the Spanish militia and are most likely buried in their home areas. However, there are untold numbers of veterans who relocated to our beautiful state, both before and after the Louisiana Purchase.
The Louisiana Society is diligently looking for those Patriots’ graves and will make every effort to mark them appropriately.
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Patriot Etienne Layssard Grave Marking (April 12, 2025)
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Patriot Turner Bynum Honored in Pineville (May 4, 2024)
State officers joined Dr. Enemund Meullion Chapter members to honor Turner Bynum, who served as a Captain in the Greensville County, Virginia, Militia during the Revolutionary War. In that capacity, he was in a volunteer corps that formed the advance in the siege of Little York, which resulted in the surrender of British General Charles Cornwallis and his forces. He served many years in the Virginia legislature before moving to Northampton County, North Carolina. He made his way to Rapides Parish, Louisiana, where he died on September 12th, 1820.
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Louisiana and Texas SAR Honors 41 Patriots in 2 Cemeteries (October 28, 2023)
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Martin Camersac Honored by both Texas and Louisiana SAR (May 29, 2023)
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Atchafalaya Chapter Honors Sixteen Patriots in Plattenville (May 28, 2023)
In a project led by chapter registrar, T.J. Blanchard, the Atchafalaya Chapter held an event on May 28, 2023, to pay tribute to sixteen American Revolutionary War era patriots who were members of the church parish that is now known as the Church of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Plattenville. Most of the patriots honored during the event are buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church, but the exact locations of their grave sites are unknown.
The patriots honored served in the Galvez expedition and lived in the area that was once known as the Valenzuela Territory. The event was attended by SAR compatriots throughout the state, the DAR state regent, and other DAR officers from Louisiana. A plaque honoring the patriots was blessed by the parish priest and hung in the rear of the church.
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Patriot Jethro Butler Annual Wreath-Laying – Hebron Cemetery (April 18, 2023)
SAR Galvez Chapter and DAR Chapters Dorcheat – Bistineau, Claiborne, and Pelican sponsored the annual wreath placing ceremony to pay respect and honor to Revolutionary Ancestor/Patriot Jethro Butler on April 18, 2023.
Patriot Jethro Butler was born in Bertie County, North Carolina in 1761. He moved to South Carolina when he was very young and he enlisted at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. He served as a private, spy, and fifer in the South Carolina Troops. He fought in numerous battles from 1775 through 1781 and was taken prisoner during an expedition to Florida. He was then commissioned a Captain in the South Carolina militia. After the war he migrated to Louisiana via Georgia and Mississippi.
He was a farmer in Claiborne Parish and died on April 9, 1841. He was survived by his children. Numerous descendants still reside in the general area.The SAR/DAR wreath laying Program of Events is shown. The Program shows the participation of each organization. The SAR wreath was placed by a direct descendant of Jethro Butler, John Peters.
SAR L - R Jerry Madden, Mike Deeter, Spencer Creech, Clyde Hightower, John Peters and Steve Creech.
DAR L – R Donna Sutton, Paula Roper, Sonja Webb, Camille Wise and Mary Wynn.
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Michael Deville Honored (April 15, 2023)
On April 15, Enemund Meullion Chapter President Mike Lee led the grave marking ceremony of Michel Deville, an American 250th event and a part of the LASSAR Annual Conference, in the Hotel Bentley. Lee and LASSAR Jeff Nolen offered welcoming remarks. The Color Guard - LASSAR Commander Ted Brode, Gerald Graves, Bob Hess, Steve Ray, Jim Morock, M.D., David Chaffin, M.D. (TNSSAR President), and D. Michael Martin, Jr. (Southern District Treasurer and ALSSAR VP) - participated in the program.
Gerald Graves is a descendant of Michel Deville. Mike Sawrie (not pictured) offered the invocation. Jim Morock, M.D., gave the Pledge of Allegiance and Bill LeJeune (not pictured) recited the American's Creed. Derrick Spell, M.D. discussed the life of the patriot and then Enemund Meullion Chapter VP Eric Irby read the proclamation of Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree. The procession of wreaths followed.
