Commissioners approve Revolutionary War marker for courthouse

The Dubois County Commissioners have approved the placement of an America 250 Revolutionary War Patriot Marker on the courthouse wall after being approached by members of the local Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and after gathering public feedback on the proposal.

The marker is a 24-inch-by-24-inch bronze plaque to be mounted on the courthouse’s west side, near the entrance. The Dubois County Daughters of the American Revolution chapter is leading the initiative and will raise funds for the project.

It is part of the country’s 250th-anniversary celebration in 2026. The DAR National Society organization has encouraged the placement of standardized markers, customized with the sponsoring organization’s name. The National Society’s goal is to place at least one marker (or more) in every state in advance – and in celebration – of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

The organization hopes to create a coast-to-coast network of markers, not unlike the National Society’s Madonna of the Trail statues, which feature 12 monuments dedicated to the spirit of pioneer women in the United States. Those monuments were commissioned by the National Society and installed in each of the 12 states along the National Old Trails Road (Route 40), which extended from Maryland to California.

These markets will all be similar and contain the following text: “Revolutionary War Patriots. This marker commemorates the men and women who achieved American independence. These Patriots, believing in the noble cause of liberty, fought valiantly to found a new nation. 1775-1783.”

Here is an example

The commissioners made their decision after soliciting community input via social media, which generated about 20-plus comments, according to Commissioner Chad Blessinger. Nearly all were in favor of the addition.

Blessinger stated he initially had reservations about adding more markers to the courthouse property, though he acknowledged the importance of recognizing the Revolutionary War.

He and the two other commissioners agreed to the placement pending approval of the final design.

The America 250 initiative aims to place community patriot markers in every state to honor Revolutionary War patriots on the nation’s 250th anniversary. Indiana currently has five approved sites and three pending approvals, including Dubois County’s proposal.

Six Revolutionary War soldiers are buried in Dubois County, even though the county didn’t exist during the Revolutionary War era.

The DAR must now submit the proposal to their national board for historian approval, a process expected to take about six months.