STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - In the past, when the American flags were removed from James Albert Chew’s grave after Memorial Day ceremonies, all of the visible reminders of the man’s military service disappeared from the Steamboat Springs Cemetery.
Now, thanks to the efforts of an aspiring Eagle Scout and other volunteers, the former police officer’s military service and the service of 125 other veterans buried in the cemetery without military headstones will be recognized year-round.
The recognition comes in the form of new, permanent bronze markers the local Boy Scouts placed at the veterans’ graves.
Grant Pohlman, a local boy who undertook the endeavor as his Eagle Scout project, said it felt good to bring more recognition to the veterans who are buried here.
“Now, people will always know they were veterans and that they served their country,” the 14-year-old said as the Scouts fanned out across the cemetery to place the markers.
Chew served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955 to 1963 before joining the local police department, according to his obituary.
He was shot and killed here in 1972 while attempting to apprehend a prison escapee who was loose in the city limits.
Chew is the only Steamboat officer to be killed in the line of duty.
Other local veterans whose graves recently were marked with the markers include ski racer Buddy Werner, author John Rolfe Burroughs and ski jumper Gordy Wren.
The graves that received the veteran markers have family headstones instead of military ones.
Jim Stanko, who serves on the cemetery’s board of directors, said Pohlman’s project will make it easier for the flags to be placed in front of all the veterans’ graves for Memorial Day.
As part of the grave-marking project, Pohlman plans to create a brochure about local veterans who are buried at the cemetery.
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Information from: Steamboat Pilot & Today, https://steamboatpilot.com/
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