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Franklin plaque and Liberty Tree project set for festival day, organizers say
Summary
Organizers of a bronze plaque honoring Benjamin Franklin and a Liberty Tree planted in Lions Legend Park said the memorials are finished and the committee agreed to schedule a public dedication on July 5 during the city's July festival; about $1,100 in surplus funds will be used for promotion or giveaways.
Organizers of a new bronze plaque honoring Benjamin Franklin and a Liberty Tree planted in Lions Legend Park told the Franklin Civic Celebration Committee the project is complete and the committee agreed to include a dedication during the July festival on July 5 from about 2 to 3 p.m.
The plaque and tree were proposed by a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and produced through a local designer working with a Pennsylvania foundry; the organizer said fundraising exceeded costs by about $1,100. "It's stored right here in the city hall... it's ready to go whenever," the project organizer said.
Committee members heard a brief history of the project: the organizer said research ties Franklin's name to the township in the late 1800s and described working with Milwaukee Memorials and a Pennsylvania firm that has produced bronze work for roughly 150 years. The organizer said Mayor Nielsen supported the plan but required that the city not bear installation costs; the organizer said the public works department would handle planting and the project would include poles and hardware at no cost to the city.
Committee members discussed whether to hold a dedication this year or wait until 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. One committee member said the July 4 program is crowded and recommended scheduling the dedication on July 5 when parking and access would be easier; another supported holding the ceremony this year to avoid losing momentum. The group settled on July 5 with a tentative 2 to 3 p.m. slot so the dedication would tie into the festival schedule and allow attendees to visit other festival attractions afterward.
The organizer listed community groups that contributed to fundraising, including the Franklin Lions, a lioness group, and the Islamic Association of Milwaukee. The organizer said student involvement and participation from the Franklin Historical Society were planned for the event.
Next steps: the organizer will provide the committee a PDF of the festival schedule so the dedication can be slotted officially and the committee will place the event in the next newsletter; the organizer said the $1,100 surplus would be used for promotion, giveaways or signage to publicize the dedication.
