Donated by the Utah State Society Daughters of the American Revolution, a new marker will be placed in the West Jordan Veterans Memorial Park entitled “America 250 Patriot Plaque.” It was unanimously accepted and approved by the city council on July 31.

West Jordan City to receive Utah’s only state plaque to commemorate 250 years of freedom in the United States following the Revolutionary War from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

 “This plaque commemorates the milestone 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America and the patriots who through their contributions to the cause, achieved American independence with principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity,” read the description submitted by the Utah DAR.

Plans describe the plaque as sized at 24-inch by 24-inch, made from bronze and “designed for hundreds of years of use.” It is completed and stored in Springville until the unscheduled installation.

Since the organization donating the plaque is a nonprofit, Mayor Dirk Burton said the installation will happen soon after securing a stone—he’s hoping in time for Constitution Day on Sept. 17.

“Veterans Memorial Park is an ideal spot for it,” he said.

Burton said it’s the best location due to the already existing memorial and future memorial plans, and the easy public access, surrounded by the future arts center, the senior center, the library and various city buildings.

“The plaque location we’ve chosen will be in our Memorial Gardens… on the east side of the gardens,” Corey Fralick said, West Jordan’s public services director. “Right as you enter, it’ll be one of the first things you see.”

It will be placed between two trees, with a bench on either side, on a stone similar to the one already placed in Boise, Idaho.

America 250 Patriot Plaque dedication in Boise, Idaho by the Idaho State Society Daughters of the American Revolution. (Photo courtesy Daughters of the American Revolution)

“It honors our history, educates the public and instills pride in our community,” Fralick said. 

Locals expressed excitement for the new plaque, calling it a “fantastic thing” and said that it will “bring our thoughts back to the people who sacrificed everything so we could have what we have today.”

West Jordan resident Chris McConnehey said he looks forward to using the plaque to teach his five boys about the country’s history.

“Our boys are very curious, they question everything,” McConnehey said. He hopes the plaque will open the door for conversations with his kids about their heritage and roots.

“I think as a parent it will make it a little bit easier for me to have some of those conversations with my kids and they’ll be the ones asking me the questions rather than me having to try to push it on them,” he said.

Leslie Gates of the Salt Lake Valley chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and West Jordan resident called it “a point of patriotic pride” and plans to bring her grandchildren and youth she teaches in her church. 

The city council’s ties to veterans and the country's roots run deep. Several spoke of their approval and excitement to see the plaque in the park. 

Councilmember Kelvin Green is a veteran of nearly 40 years, Councilmember Pamela Bloom grew up on a military base with her father and grandfather being enlisted and Councilmember Bob Bedore’s father served in the military for nearly 40 years.

“Wars are fought on ideas and ideals, but often the idea is you’re fighting for your home,” Bedore said. “I think [the American Revolution] was an incident where they were literally fighting for a home, knowing that there would be no place to go if they didn’t.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to have this [plaque] here so we can have the field trips, we can have the discussions and we can have people know about something that really mattered.”