Veterans Memorialization Project of Linn County

Leonard Kelly died as a result of injuries he sustained while storming the beaches at Normandy during WWII. For over 70 years Mr. Kelly's remains rested in an unmarked grave in the Woodlawn section of Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. With the help of multiple organizations and Cedar Memorial, this was remedied in 2016.

How is this scenario possible when the Veterans Administration offers a free headstone or marker to honorably discharged veterans?

While the headstone or marker is free, the foundation on which it's placed and the installation is not, and cemeteries simply don't have the financial resources or staff to do this at no charge.

To form the Veterans Memorialization Project, the Cedar Valley Detachment 99 of the Marine Corps League, the Linn County Veterans Services, and Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery have partnered to support the community.

The goal is to ensure that the sacrifices made by our local veterans will be recognized by future generations. Working together, funds have been and continue to be raised to facilitate the placement of headstones or markers at the graves of honorably discharged veterans who have gone without any memorialization for at least 10 years. This will include every cemetery located in Linn County.

If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, please send donations for the "Veterans Memorialization Project of Linn County" to the Marine Corps League, 6110 First Avenue NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52405.