Plaque dedication in Monroe County marks nation’s 250th anniversary

On Saturday (July 11), a new plaque was unveiled during a ceremony dedicated to Americans who served in the Revolutionary War and are buried in Monroe County.

Hosted by the Monroe County and Bloomington Chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the dedication ceremony took place on the first floor of the Monroe County Courthouse Saturday morning, followed by a reception at the Monroe County History Center’s “History on the Block” party.

The events were part of celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The new plaque recognizes 30 patriots, which the DAR defines as someone who provided service or direct assistance in achieving America’s independence. Lucy Jacobs, historian for the Bloomington DAR chapter, said in her remarks at the event: “The former plaque, which was installed in 1986 ... contained the names of some patriots that, at the time, were believed to have actually been here in the County.”

However, Jackobs said, research revealed that there “were some inaccuracies.” She continued, ”So now, in time for America’s 250th birthday, the plaque has been updated to provide a proper roster; so, everyone on this plaque has been proven to have been a Revolutionary War patriot here in Monroe County and they are buried here as well.”

Other speakers at the event were Bloomington DAR regent Jenn Richards, Monroe County commissioner Julie Thomas, Indiana DAR state regent Elaine Sholty, Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson, Monroe County History Center director Daniel Schlegel, Monroe County councilor Trent Deckard, and Bloomington DAR chaplain Jana Trace.

County councilor Deckard is a descendant of Johannes Jacob Deckard II, who is listed on the plaque. In his remarks, Deckard emphasized the importance of sharing stories. “My grandmother Deckard was the one that would tell me the stories of our family as best that she could piece it together,” he said.

Deckard continued, “And so, as is often the case, it is the women that keep those stories, those goals, and those things alive for so many different families.” He thanked both DAR and the history center for their work in protecting these stories. “The day that we don't have a place where these stories are kept, those stories don’t go from generation to another, we don’t crack open our history books, will be a sad day for a republic that these revolutionaries built. We must always remember that.”

Bloomington mayor Thomson said in her remarks, “As mayor, I spend a lot of my time thinking about infrastructure—roads, and sewers, and water lines, and things like that. Today, it is important that we remember that a piece of infrastructure is going in our courthouse to help remind us of the people who have walked before us, who have paved the way to our lives today.”

Thomson encouraged the audience to let the work of DAR and the history center serve as examples of “everyday patriotism; of the work that we do every day to ensure that we have a democracy, that we have the freedom—the many freedoms that those who fought that Revolutionary War fought for.”

“The fact that [DAR] can take a piece of history that's literally 250 years old now, and make that relevant and tangible to the public and to the folks in Monroe County today, I feel, is a very impressive feat,” History Center director Schlegel said.

Photos: Monroe County Patriot Plaque Dedication Ceremony and Unveiling

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