There’s a nondescript cemetery on the northeast corner where Judd Road ends at Saline-Milan Road. It isn’t clear if any particular place has been designated for visitor parking, nor, for that matter, if there’s much demand for one. In all the years that we’ve looked in on it, however, we’ve never found grass or grounds lacking in very attentive care.
Quite matter-of-factly, a sign designates it as “Judd Cemetery,” further noting that it was formally established in 1839.
Just outside its gates, an empty 20-ounce sports drink bottle lay discarded on the ground. The only signs of attendance within were two large arrangements of brightly colored artificial flowers that adorned markers affiliated with the same family; the unrelenting sun and heat of this summer had yet to diminish them. Yes, today is July 4 — the day that commemorates our declaration of independence from Great Britain. But there wasn’t a United States flag anywhere in sight here.
Things were quite a bit different in 2009. Nine years ago this Independence Day, the field across from Judd Cemetery was filled with vehicles, with overflow parking extended on down the road. Over 300 people were there that day, some having driven 140 miles for the occasion. Active duty military appeared in dress uniform, along side Revolutionary War re-enactors in period attire. [1,2]
Then-sitting United States Congressman John Dingell Jr spoke at Judd Cemetery. Others in attendance included former Saline mayor Donald Shelton, at the time a Washtenaw County Trial Court judge. Youth from local Boy Scout Troop 446 were present. Saline Journal parent company D2 Enterprises provided photography for The Ann Arbor News. [3,4]
All of this came about to honor the unveiling of a headstone placed on the apparently unmarked grave of Daniel Throop, a captain in Revolutionary War. The presenting backstory holds that this, his final resting place since 1833, had gone unmarked for who knows how long? — until things were set right in 2009. The story earned coverage as far away as Connecticut. Maybe farther. [5,6]
Little more is known about Captain Throop. Even less is agreed upon. It’s been argued that key elements of the few words that appear on the now decade old marker aren’t right.
Saline historian and taphophile Bob Lane was there for the commemorations nine years ago, too. When reflecting back on that day last weekend, he expressed little interest in such controversies. To him, the more important thing now is that the community was moved to a renewed interest in a pivotal period of United States history, if not precisely Saline history. [7]
Although noted as Independence Day, the American Revolution came about as a culmination of tensions that had been rising for more than a decade. Independence would not come until many years after the Continental Congress vote to adopt the signature document primarily credited to Thomas Jefferson. Between those to points in time rests the rich, complicated, and often compellingly unclear origin story to which Bob Lane alluded. [8,9,10]
Another Revolutionary War figure, General George Washington is believed to have advised that “the willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” He might have said as much about grand ceremonies at the grave sites of heroic veterans. [11,12]
There’s a small metal flag holder in the ground near the marker for Captain Daniel Throop with raised lettering that reads “Revolutionary Soldier.” Nine years ago, a United States flag on finished staff appeared there. Today a casual observer might have thought it had been carelessly replaced by a dried stick of old, brittle wood. On closer inspection, they would have seen that it had not.
Rather, that bit of wood has a finished top and was meant to have been placed here. Once upon a time, it served as standard for a memorial flag — now long since rotted away. Was it part of that Independence Day excitement here nearly a decade ago? If so, what does that mean?
References
- “Ceremony celebrates history, you decide” Lisa Allmendinger (July 3, 2009) The Saline Reporter and Milan News-Leader.
- “Daniel Throop Revolutionary War Veteran Memorial” Steve Pierce (July 5, 2009) YpsiNews.
- “Dingell, John David Jr” History, Art & Archives: United States House of Representatives.
- “Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge Donald Shelton will retire in September” John Counts (April 8, 2014) mLive.
- “Revolutionary War soldier buried in unmarked grave will finally get due recognition” Cindy Heflin (July 1, 2009) mLive.
- “Connecticut Revolutionary War Veteran Honored In Michigan” Jesse Leavenworth (July 10, 2009) Harford Courant.
- “taphophilia” Collins Dictionary.
- “Revolutionary War” History.
- “American Revolution” History.
- “Myths of the American Revolution” John Ferling (January 2010) Smithsonian Magazine.
- “We aren’t doing enough to help veterans transition to civilian life” Michèle A. Flournoy (April 2, 2014) The Washington Post.
- “‘We are going to take care of the troops, first, last and all the time’ – George Marshall, 1940” HW Brands (March 28, 2012) HistoryNet.
