Patriot Project

Ready to volunteer? Visit Volunteer Dodge to record hours

Before you start recording locations, download the Survey123 via your app store or click the Download Survey 123 App.

Step 1: To be connected with the Dodge County Patriot Project Map, click here once the app is downloaded to your device. You do not have to sign in.

Step 2: Click the "Collect" option (blue circle with +)

Step 3: Select the Cemetery you are currently at in the drop down menu. (See Picture Below for 3-6)

Step 4: Start marking the locations of the Veterans. Fill in Name, Branch of Service, War Period (if applicable). Date of Death, and any notes you would like to add (no veteran flag holder, marker almost buried)

Step 5: Grave location. While standing next to the grave, select, the circle with lines. This will plot the exact location of the grave.

Step 6: Take Picture of the Marker. Try to take a picture of the military marker or make sure the name and dates are easily read. 

Ready to Submit! Click the check mark in the bottom left corner of the screen and select "Send Now"

After submitting locations, these can be viewed under the main page (this is the one with the blue + sign/ Collect option). To see locations you have previously sent, click "Sent" (Grey Circle with an Arrow). To see these locations on the map, click MAP on bottom of screen. 

Do you know a veteran in your family that has passed but does not have a gravesite? This could include remains that were cremated and not interred to a cemetery, POW/MIA that do not have a final resting place or those whose remains were interred on private property. DCVSO would like to document and honor those individuals as well. Please submit that information below.

Please remain respectful while visiting cemeteries.

Here are some helpful items to remember:

• Be quiet and considerate.
• Respect the gravesites (avoid walking on graves or leaning on headstones).
• Do not disturb others—be mindful of ongoing funerals, processions, and those grieving.
• Check for specific cemetery rules.

National Park Service Cemetery Etiquette

Coins on a Veteran's Headstone? Please leave it. This tradition dates back to the Roman Empire and became more common in the U.S. after the Vietnam War. A coin left on a headstone signals to the family that someone stopped to pay their respects. This is typically done at veteran cemeteries but may be seen at any cemetery. Each coin has a specific meaning:

• A penny means you visited.
• A nickel means you and the deceased veteran trained at boot camp together.
• A dime means you and the deceased veteran served together.
• A quarter means you were there when the veteran died, typically while actively serving.

Dodge County Veterans Services would like to say thank you to Washington County Veteran Service Office with their assistance in creating this project based off of their own Veteran Grave Geo-Cache Project. 

We would also like to thank Dodge County GIS Land and Information Department for building the survey and map. Without their support, this project would not exist. 

Thank you to the volunteers that did the physical leg work of plotting while the program was being built.