‘We will always be here’: Southern Utah DAR chapter pays tribute to late Shivwits leader Glenn Rogers

Written by Nick Yamashita
May 29, 2023

ST. GEORGE — One by one, each member of the Daughters of the American Revolution went forward and knelt at the graveside, placing a rose in front of one of their “best friends and supporters.”

Daughters of American Revolution all together with Karma Grayman post a U.S. Flag in the Glenn Rogers’ gravesite, Shivwits Tribal Cemetery, Utah, May 27, 2023 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

Valerie King, regent of the Color Country Chapter, conveyed a message of community at the graveside of Glenn Rogers at the Shivwits Tribal Cemetery on Saturday

“He fought very successfully for the general well-care of his people,” King said. “He also had a great love for veterans, having served himself.”

Rogers, who passed on May 14, was a former Shivwits tribal chairman who helped the local Paiute tribe with their recent success.

With over 30 years in tribal leadership service, and his goal for culture retention and traditional education, Rogers “just about did it all.”

Karma Grayman, who was on the tribal council at the same time as Rogers, said he worked hard to make sure his people were taken care of.

“He would not back down from anyone,” she said.

She mentioned examples including taking on the state and leaders with the city of St. George over concerns such as water rights, property rights, signage, the starting of tribal businesses and recreational advancement.

Daughters of American Revolution paid tribute and honored Shivwits leader and veteran Glenn Rogers at Shivwits Tribal Cemetery, Utah, Dec. 3, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

Rogers served as a public voice for tribal members and always responded to interviews with St. George News. This aided his mission that the community would become educated about local Native Americans.

Rogers, a native member of the Shivwits band, spent most of his childhood in St. George, Enterprise and Kaibab, Ariz. He was born on Oct. 2, 1953. After graduating from Fredonia High School in Arizona, he served in U.S. Army. He was affiliated with Artillery Unit 222 from 1980-86 and was a Cold War medal recipient.

He spent 20 years working as a silversmith for M&S Turquoise in St. George. While there he helped the business with the creation and success of the Shivwits Christmas Toy Drive providing Christmas gifts to numerous Native American families.

Dedicated to the education of his culture and traditional practices, Rogers taught workshops, led educational hikes and organized events for local organizations such as the Conserve Southwest Utah. He was an active monitor of the Colorado River, helping provide solutions to preserve and protect the river.

King said the Daughters of the American Revolution’s partnership with Rogers started in 2012 when they officially took over the Wreaths Across America Program, which included laying wreaths on each of the Shivwits veterans’ gravesites. Rogers was an active member of the American Legion.

Glenn Rogers and Valerie King during Wreaths Across America Ceremony at Shivwits Tribal Cemetery, Utah, December 17, 2022 | Photo by Nick Yamashita, St. George News

“Every year he made sure we had the access and everything we needed,” said King, adding it was through this partnership she saw the fire of patriotism he held within his soul.

She described how he was always working to keep the cemetery clean and helped get the veterans’ memorial installed.

King said the Daughters of the American Revolution will keep working as Rogers did to honor local veterans. She expressed her love and condolences to Rogers’ wife Loretta and his family.

After roses were placed, the women put American flags on top of veteran gravesites starting with the newest member of the veteran heroes. Once 21, now 22 flags were laid.

“Glenn, we are here today to honor you,” King said. “Not to say goodbye, because we will always be here every year to place a wreath on your grave and remember the man we love and admire.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nick Yamashita has extensive experience reporting for small town media, covering a variety of subjects and events for The Virgin River Times and The Progress in Southern Nevada. Before a career in journalism, he worked a variety of jobs in criminal justice systems. Yamashita holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies from Southern Utah University. He is an award-winning photographer and writer. He has been published in scholarly articles and poetry compilations. In his spare time, he practices and teaches martial arts.

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Twitter: @STGnews

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