DAR and county veterans propose three 'Unmarked But Unforgotten' memorials, seek Powell participation

Powell City Council on May 7 heard a presentation from Delaware County Veterans Service and the Delaware City chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution proposing three county memorials—one in Powell, one in Delaware and one in Sunbury—to commemorate Revolutionary War veterans and other servicemembers whose graves are unmarked or inaccessible.

The proposal, titled “Unmarked But Unforgotten,” would place markers in each of the three municipalities and would allow names to be added later if additional information about interments becomes available. Brian Gallagher of the Delaware County Veterans Service Office said the Veterans Service Commission has initially earmarked $75,000 per site, for a total of $225,000, and organizers plan additional fundraising if costs exceed that amount.

Organizers said the sites would include names identified through DAR research; Pam Steinhardt of the Delaware City DAR chapter said the group has identified roughly 30 Revolutionary War–era veterans scattered across the county whose graves are unmarked, on private property or in locations that make on‑site markers impractical. The presenters said the memorials are intended to accommodate future commemorations for later conflicts including the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish–American War and World War I.

The DAR representatives described a planned design competition intended to engage local artists and a community selection process. Amy Wright, identified in the presentation as a cemetery administrator for the City of Delaware, said the City of Delaware would likely administer the design competition and that Ted Tim Miller, Delaware’s parks and recreation director, would help lead that effort.

Funding and administrative questions were a focus of council discussion. A county official said the Veterans Service Commission controls the earmarked funds and that the county commissioners have a statutory responsibility for veterans memorials located in cemeteries; presenters said they would meet with county staff and the county commissioners’ attorney to clarify responsibilities and next steps. Organizers said they hope to time an unveiling with the national America250 commemoration cycle and Veterans Day programming, pending approvals and project timelines.

No formal vote or council motion was taken on the proposal at the meeting; presenters asked the council to consider partnership on site selection and design planning and to maintain communication as the project advances.

For now, organizers plan to continue research into service verification and to return to the Veterans Service Commission if the final cost estimates exceed the current earmark. The presenters invited further questions and follow‑up from Powell staff and council members.