Ceremony to be held at Kane County Judicial Center for elm tree, plaque donated by local DAR chapter
A ceremony will be held Nov. 15 at the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles for an elm tree and historical marker meant to honor several Revolutionary War veterans who settled in Kane County and who are buried within its borders.
The event is being hosted by the Elias Kent Kane Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, which donated the “Liberty Tree” and plaque to the county last year.
The tree and plaque are being placed at the county’s Judicial Center campus in St. Charles, following considerable discussion about the proposed location and plans for them.
When the donation was first accepted by the county, the proposed location for the historical marker and American elm tree was the Kane County Courthouse at 100 S. Third St. in Geneva.
But the tree and historical marker were ultimately the subject of months of deliberation among the Kane County Board, which shot down plans to put them at the county courthouse in Geneva back in May. The tree and marker had initially been slated to be part of a larger “Declaration Square” project at the courthouse, which was meant to be part of the county’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
But America’s 250th came and went without the tree getting planted, and the square’s future remained up in the air.
Then, the county turned to a different site: a grassy area outside the entrance to the Judicial Center in St. Charles. That proposal came at a much lower price than the proposed square, and the location already had flags and an existing plaque dedicated to Kane County veterans nearby.
In September, the county board ultimately agreed on planting the tree and putting the historical marker at the Judicial Center campus, with plans for them to be part of a Veterans Day celebration.
Now, the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter is hosting a dedication ceremony for the tree and marker.
The event is set to take place at 3 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Kane County Judicial Center at 37W777 Route 38, according to a news release from the Elias Kent Kane Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, or DAR.
The ceremony will be open to the public, the chapter said, and attendees will get to see the unveiling of the historical marker and the dedication of the tree. The event is part of the local DAR chapter’s ongoing 250th festivities.
In addition to the tree and historical marker recognizing the Revolutionary War veterans who are buried in the county, the open green space at the Judicial Center is meant to provide a “prominent setting,” symbolizing “the enduring legacy of American independence and the values of freedom, service and patriotism,” the DAR chapter said in the news release.
“We are honored to commemorate the Revolutionary War patriots connected to Kane County,” Christine Harmon, regent of the Elias Kent Kane chapter of the DAR, said in the news release about the event. “This ceremony reflects our chapter’s commitment to preserving history, educating our community, and celebrating the legacy of those who helped shape our nation.”
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