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DAR and county veterans propose three-site memorial for unmarked veterans; partial county funding pledged
Summary
Representatives of the Delaware City Daughters of the American Revolution and the Delaware County Veterans Service Office presented a plan to memorialize unmarked Revolutionary War and other early veterans across three municipalities, seeking municipal partnership and fundraising after the county committed partial funds.
Members of the Delaware City Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Delaware County Veterans Service Office briefed City Council on May 12 about a proposal to memorialize unmarked Revolutionary War veterans and other early service members across Delaware County.
Linda Shields of the Delaware City DAR told council the chapter identified roughly 28 Revolutionary War patriots in the county whose grave sites are unmarked or lost. "These maybe were never marked, maybe they were buried on a farm... maybe the grave just disintegrated due to time," Shields said, adding the DARs intent is to begin memorializing these veterans as part of the United States semiquincentennial celebration.
Brian Gallagher, director of the County Veterans Service Office, said the countys Veterans Service Commission was asked to fund $150,000 per site for three memorials (Delaware City, Sunbury and Powell) but instead approved half that amount: $75,000 per site, for a total of $225,000. "Initially, we went to them with the request of $150,000 for each site... they came back with half of that amount," Gallagher said.
The presenters described the plan as a partnership among the DAR, veterans organizations and the municipalities; they proposed design competitions and three related but unique monuments to be unveiled on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2026. Gallagher said additional donations and private fundraising will be sought and that the county veterans commission may cover remaining costs depending on fundraising results.
Council members thanked the presenters and discussed potential city involvement and donor coordination. The request was information and partnership-seeking; no council appropriation vote was taken that evening.
