It appears the mystery surrounding the 15 World War I-era rifles relocated earlier this month has been solved.
One week after borough officials questioned who the "unclaimed" rifles belong to, former Mayor James Gray claimed they are the property of the Dalton Veterans Memorial Day Committee.
"The rifles were presented to the committee around 1968," said Mr. Gray, who resigned in December. "They have been used at every Memorial Day ceremony since."
Stored in an unlocked closet at the Dalton Fire Hall for decades, the rifles were recently moved to a secure locker in the Police Department after fire company members raised safety concerns.
But while discussing the weapons at the March 14 council meeting, borough officials couldn't pinpoint who owned them.
"I really had no idea, even though they are used during every Memorial Day celebration," Councilman William Montgomery said. "I hadn't thought much about it until it was brought up."
Still in pristine condition, the rifles belonged to the borough's American Legion post for at least 20 years.
But the group lost its charter after a significant dip in membership in the mid-1960s - about the same time John Holbert, co-chairman of the committee, left the military.
"A group of us formed a committee upon returning, and the last few members of the Legion asked us if we were interested in the rifles," Mr. Holbert said. "We still have boxes we were given that have shipping stickers dated a long time ago.
"All of it was passed on to us."
Since the committee took ownership of them, the rifles had been stored in a closet at the fire hall, a location close to where the Memorial Day service is held.
They are only used for about five minutes each year to fire blanks during a 21-gun salute. But the rifles provide a link to history and to those who sacrificed their lives for America, Mr. Gray said.
"These rifles have significant history and stand for the blood that was shed in World War I and World War II," Mr. Gray said. "When the honor guards at the Memorial Day ceremony fire the rifles, it's a salute to those who have gone before us."
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