Flag Raising at Fort Des Moines on July 4th

On the morning of July 4th, much of America will be celebrating the 250th birthday of our country. There are events of every size and shape.

Early that morning, an Eagle scout (Benjamin Harrington) a college history professor (Doug Frazer), an athletic trainer and entrepreneur (Michael Donahue), a full time father and parttime movie reviewer (David Rowley), a creative Product manager (Thomas Ochylski) and a retired pharmaceutical sales rep & great-great-great-great-great-grandson (Mike Rowley) of one of the 41 known Revolutionary War veterans buried in Iowa will don the wool uniforms of soldiers of several eras and raise the flags at Fort Des Moines.

 

The public event will invite all to remember the history of those who may have been forgotten, at a place also forgotten by many, but still holds so much tremendous local and national history.

 

First reactions of new visitors or those who may not have been there for decades might be unprepared for the conditions of some of the grounds. There is overgrown grass and weeds. There is chipped paint on the porch. The reflection pool clearly has seen better days. But once inside the museum, one quickly feels a great sense of pride in being an Iowan or a Des Moines descendant of those who served here. 

 

The 9:00 am ceremony won’t be the biggest, longest, or most extravagant event of this 4th of July. But if even a few caring, active and passionate people come and view the museum building and grounds with an eye willing to see what it once was and could be again and if even a few are willing to give their time, expertise, and enough for needed materials I am confident one year from now all Iowans will again point with pride at all that Fort Des Moines and the men and women who have past through there over the years represents.