My very first column, under the heading was published in “Crescent” on Aug. 24, 1995. Tressie (Clark) Mansker, who grow up in Saguache, furnished me with the obituary of Sam Calvert. Simon (Sam) Calvert passed away in 1924. From his obituary, I quote, “The place of burial is on the high-point of and between Baxter Creek and Ford Creek overlooking the homestead. It is a beautiful spot and seems an appropriate burial place for Calvert, so much of who’s life had been spent there.

On Aug.29, 1996, a year after  my first little story, I again wrote about Sam Calvert. Jim Calvert a great nephew of Sam Calvert wrote to me from Altoona, Pa. asking. for information about his deceased relative. After the exchange of a couple of letters Calvert and his wife, Judy, made a trip to Saguache. I took this nice couple up Ford Creek to the location of Sam’s homestead. After a short hike, we located the gravesite. We found the pole fence surrounding the grave was mostly rotted away, after 72 years.  With Jim’s camera, I took his picture to show other relatives back in Pennsylvania. I learned from Jim Calvert that Sam was a Civil War veteran. I was concerned that here was a man who had served his country, buried these many years, without a tombstone to mark his grave.

This was a case where County, Veteran’s Service Officer Simon (Sam) Halburian had very little to begin with, but was able to follow through and procure a Government headstone, which all honorably discharged veterans are entitled to.

So the third chapter of this story took place on Aug. 15, 1998 when nine veterans ranging from WWII, Korea and Viet Nam gathered to pay their respects and erect a tombstone in memory of a departed comrade.

John Woodard’s father, Ray Woodard, helped with the burial of Simon Calvert 74 years ago, so it was appropriate that John serving as Chaplain prayed. “May he rest in peace.” 

Simon P. Calvert, Pvt., Co. A, Inf. Penn. Nov. 10, 1844 – June 25, 1924