Daughters of American Revolution support C.F. Veterans Park

March 03--CEDAR FALLS -- Sid Morris has a "revolutionary" idea to raise funds for the upkeep of Veterans Park in Cedar Falls.

He's gone to the group at the forefront of this nation's independence -- the Cedar Falls chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

In late 2012, Morris, a former City Council member, longtime local educator and Korean War veteran, revived lagging commemorative brick sales at Veterans Park, established in 1997 on Waterloo Road, in order to raise funds for its upkeep. The park has suffered some deterioration and loss of vegetation due to drought.

Since then, hundreds of people have purchased bricks for themselves or a loved one in the military, with their name, years and branch of service.

Last year, Morris identified numerous Spanish-American War and War of 1812 veterans buried in Cedar Falls cemeteries for whom no brick had been set in place at the park.

This year, he went further back and approached members of the Cedar Falls DAR chapter about placing bricks at the park honoring their patriot ancestors.

"They were very excited," said Barbara Gregersen, first vice president of the Cedar Falls DAR chapter. "There's not many places you can actually commemorate your Revolutionary patriot. We're not aware of any other places in the state of Iowa. So, we're very excited."

To be a member, an individual has to research their family genealogy and document that an ancestor played some part in the Revolutionary War, either as a soldier or who aided the revolutionary cause. Gregersen, for example, has an ancestor who was a militiaman in western Massachusetts.

It's excellent timing for the Cedar Falls DAR chapter to become involved in the Veterans Park project, Gregersen said, since this year is the national DAR's 125th anniversary. The Cedar Falls chapter was founded in 1901. This year also marks the 240th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Mass., generally credited with being the first military engagements of the war.

Morris said the bricks honoring American Revolution patriots will be grouped together in a special area of the park, near the base of the replica Statue of Liberty located at the park, moved there from Overman Park when Veterans Park was established.

"We're very pleased Sid explained to us that our bricks would be at the foot of the Statue of Liberty," near its foundation, noting the symbolism of that location. "We're the founding group, as far as the nation is concerned."

"The primary thing that attracted me to this organization is, I like the preservation of history," Morris said, and the DAR is responsible for the preservation of the very origins of this nation's history.

While the DAR members' ancestors may not have been Cedar Falls residents, Morris explained that the Cedar Falls Veterans Park is open to all veterans.

Gregersen said the chapter has member throughout the Cedar Valley, in Waterloo-Cedar Falls and surrounding communites. Some have been DAR members for more than 50 years and the chapter as one member who is more than 100 years old.

Morris noted veterans of any and all eras and branches of service are welcome to have bricks at the park. The bricks cost $50.

He said applications will be accepted through May 15 and are available at the Cedar Falls Recreation Center, at 110 E. 13th St. not far from the park, or at Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49, at 20th and Irving streets, as well as Cedar Falls City Hall, the Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau Welcome Center on Hudson Road or Casey's General Stores in Cedar Falls.

Completed applications may be dropped off at the Cedar Falls Recreation Center or with Morris. Questions may be directed to Morris at 290-0813 or the city at 268-5523.

Checks should be made out to "Cedar Falls Veterans Park" and the money will go into a special Cedar Falls Civic Foundation account for the park's upkeep.

Proceeds from the brick sales beyond engraving expenses go into a fund to preserve ongoing maintenance of the park.

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