Honoring Revolutionary War Patriots this Memorial Day

As the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding approaches, we celebrate the spirit of service, resilience, and civic commitment of Revolutionary War patriots buried in Iowa. Explore the lives and legacies of these patriots with Stefanie Wager’s digital repository. These stories honor the roles they played in the American Revolution and Iowa’s history.

Iowa’s cemeteries are more than just resting places; they are vital sanctuaries that preserve our rich historical and cultural heritage. Growing within these sacred grounds are champion big trees that tell a story of resilience, history, and ecological importance. Four cemeteries are home to both Revolutionary War patriots and Iowa Big Tree Champions, with a notable concentration found at Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington.

Discover more about these remarkable champion trees with Iowa DNR’s Big Tree Viewer. The Big Trees of Iowa program, managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry section, honors the largest specimens of every tree species in the state. Whether you are submitting a nomination for a new champion, researching the history of past winners, or simply marveling at the botanical diversity of our state, we invite you to explore and celebrate these extraordinary arboreal monuments.