Honoring Our Patriots Online: Find a Grave Adds Revolutionary War Indicator

In the lead‑up to America’s 250th anniversary, Find a Grave (https://www.findagrave.com) has introduced a new way for the public to recognize the men and women who contributed to the American Revolution. The platform now allows users to add a “1776 badge” (see example below on William Grayson’s page) to memorials of individuals who participated in the Revolutionary War—an initiative designed to help families, researchers, and heritage organizations highlight patriots across the nation. 

This new feature is part of Find a Grave’s broader “Honoring the Spirit of 1776” effort, which brings together memorials of notable Revolutionary figures and encourages community members to help identify and document patriots resting in cemeteries large and small. The badge can be added by suggesting an edit to any qualifying memorial, making it a community‑driven project that aligns naturally with the mission of the Sons of the American Revolution. 

Why This Matters for the SAR

For the Virginia SAR, this development is more than a digital enhancement—it is an opportunity.

Every newly identified patriot on Find a Grave represents a story waiting to be told, a life waiting to be documented, and a legacy waiting to be preserved. The SAR’s Patriot Research System (PRS) is the national repository for these stories, yet thousands of patriots still have no written biography attached to their record.

Find a Grave’s new indicator helps surface these patriots in a highly visible public space. But only the SAR can ensure their stories are preserved with historical rigor.

A Shared Mission: Connecting Gravesites to the PRS

As more community members add the 1776 badge to Revolutionary War memorials, SAR members have a unique opportunity to:

• Verify the service using primary sources and established SAR standards
• Document the patriot through a new or supplemental application
• Add a biography to the Patriot Research System, ensuring the patriot’s life story is preserved for future generations

This is especially important for patriots whose graves are known but whose stories remain incomplete. A Find a Grave memorial may list a name, a date, and a cemetery—but the PRS can preserve the fuller narrative: military service, family, community contributions, and the patriot’s place in the story of American independence.

How Virginia Compatriots Can Help

1. Search Find a Grave for the 1776 badge  
2. Many patriots already have memorials, but not all have been marked. When you find a qualifying ancestor or local patriot, you can suggest the addition of the badge.
3. Cross‑reference with the PRS  
4. If the patriot is not yet documented in the SAR system—or lacks a biography—this is an ideal moment to contribute.
5. Write and submit a PRS biography  
6. Even a concise, well‑sourced narrative strengthens the historical record. The PRS is designed to preserve these stories permanently.
7. Share your work with your chapter  
8. Chapters can highlight members who document new patriots or add biographies, reinforcing the SAR’s educational mission.

A Call to Action: Tell Your Patriot’s Story

Find a Grave’s new Revolutionary War indicator helps the public recognize patriots at a glance. But only we—compatriots of the SAR—can ensure their stories are told with accuracy, dignity, and depth.

If your patriot ancestor does not yet have a biography in the PRS, now is the perfect time to write one.

If your chapter has members researching local cemeteries, encourage them to look for patriots who may qualify for the 1776 badge—and for inclusion in the SAR’s historical record.

Storytelling is how we honor their service. Documentation is how we preserve it.

Add the badge.
Write the biography.
Strengthen the record for 2026 and beyond.