Quad Cities citizens and especially those with German ancestry are invited to participate in two Memorial Day events this weekend. There will be a Founders' Day Celebration at the Dixon, Iowa Cemetery beginning at 10:00 a.m. The occasion seeks to honor and remember the contributions of German immigrants to the region. The venue changes annually so that many final resting places receive recognition. The celebration will include musical selections, a history of the cemetery, and a brief address. Dixon mayor Steve Laughlin will
serve as master of ceremonies. Refreshments will be available at the conclusion of the event. In case of rain the ceremony will take place in the Hope Lutheran Church, directly next to the cemetery.
There will also be a recognition wreath in place along northbound Gaines Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets in remembrance of the 1848-50 "Kampfgenossen" or German war veterans from Schleswig-Holstein who first fought against Danish control of that region.
Although unsuccessful, many leaders of that group immigrated to Scott and Rock Island counties where they became leading citizens of their day and contributed immeasurably to the development of their new communities. A large commemorative stone was re-erected in 2008 to mark their achievements.
These events are sponsored jointly by the American Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society, the German American Family Club of Iowa and Illinois, the German American Heritage Center, the German American National Congress (DANK), and the Schuetzenpark Gilde.
Also on Saturday!
All day-drop by!
There will also be a recognition wreath in place along northbound Gaines Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets in remembrance of the 1848-50 "Kampfgenossen" or German war veterans from Schleswig-Holstein who first fought against Danish control of that region. Although unsuccessful, many leaders of that group immigrated to Scott and Rock Island counties where they became leading citizens of their day and contributed immeasurably to the development of their new communities. A large commemorative stone was re-erected in 2008 to mark their achievements.
The wreath is sponsored by the German Roundtable
