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Dodge County launches online 'Patriot Project' to map veterans' graves
Summary
Dodge County Veteran Services rolled out an interactive map and app that allows the public to log and view veterans' grave sites in county cemeteries, officials said. The office hopes volunteers and local organizations will expand the database and flag missing markers.
Dodge County Veteran Services unveiled the Patriot Project, an interactive map and mobile app that lets the public find and log graves of county veterans, the department told the Human Services and Health Board.
The project allows users to search by veteran name or cemetery, add a geotagged photo, and note missing markers or flags, said Caitlin, a Veteran Services staff member. "We had a volunteer that went out and logged over 150 graves as the initial test," Caitlin said, and the database now holds roughly "maybe 200" entries.
Why it matters: the county hopes the tool will help veteran groups and families locate graves and maintain markers. Christie Fane of the Land Resources and Parks Department built the map and app and will provide monthly reports of new entries for verification, board members were told.
How it works: anyone can scan a QR code from the county website, open the app without signing in, press collect while at a site, and submit name, dates, branch of service, war period and a photo. Monthly reports of new submissions will be reviewed by Veteran Services staff; entries that appear not to be veterans can be removed, Caitlin said.
Rollout and outreach: staff said they already shared the project with American Legion posts, the VFW, and local volunteers who place flags on graves for Memorial Day. The county hopes to recruit Boy Scout and Girl Scout volunteers for data collection and to publicize the map via local papers, the county newsletter and social media.
Limitations and next steps: entries currently cover only Dodge County cemeteries; the office plans an "in memory" listing for cremated veterans without a burial location. Staff also asked families to log veterans themselves when appropriate. The county did not give a timetable for statewide coordination, though board members noted that Washington County served as an early model and Jefferson County has started a similar effort.
"It's a collaborative effort between Dodge County Veteran Services, the GIS department, and local organizations to locate and honor our veterans," Caitlin said.
The board did not take formal action; staff said they will promote the map and report back on volunteer involvement and submission counts.
