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On Armed Forces Day, May 18, 2002, the Veterans’ Memorial Campfire Ring at Camp Waubeek was formally dedicated.
This unique and impressive Veterans’ Memorial is fashioned out of Stone City Limestone, and is sited near the Hanford Lodge. Designed by Jim Novak of Novak Design Group, the memorial was inspired by a Frank Lloyd Wright designed barbeque pit, and was influenced by the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Washington DC.
The Veterans’ Memorial was erected to accomplish the following goals:
- Honor all servicemen and women whom have made sacrifices to keep America free.
- Serve as a reminder to all people that the rights and privileges we enjoy as Americans exist and are preserved, only through diligence, sacrifice and leadership.
- To serve as a stimulus for conversation between adults and youth related to the history of our country and the sacrifices Veterans have made. The ultimate goal is to teach children that they have a responsibility to live up to these sacrifices by becoming knowledgeable, participating citizens.
 The centerpiece of the new Veterans’ Memorial Campfire Ring is a bronze sculpture of famed cartoonist Bill Mauldin’s “The Cavalry Sergeant”. The piece depicts a WWII cavalryman unhappily “retiring” his venerable Jeep.
The Hawkeye Area Council hopes this sculpture serves as a way for Scouts of all ages to reflect on the sacrifices made by veterans through the ages.
Bill Mauldin rose to fame during the war years working for “Stars and Stripes” where his beloved series “Willie and Joe” depicted the life of soldiers on the front lines. Later as a columnist for the “Chicago Sun-Times” he received the Pulitzer Prize and worldwide recognition for his sketches depicting life in America.
“The Cavalry Sergeant” stands as a testament to the spirit of America, her veterans, and the bond shared between Scouts and members of every armed service.
A History of Veterans and the Hawkeye Area Council
The Hawkeye Area Council, Boy Scouts of America and military veterans have enjoyed a productive relationship dating back into the 1920’s.
In fact, World War I veterans from the Hanford American Legion Post No. 5 single-handedly saved the local Boy Scout program in 1929. Faced with the loss of their existing rented camp property, the local Boy Scouts turned to the Legion Scouting Committee and the community in general for help.
Howard H. Cherry, Sr. purchased and donated to the Boy Scouts of America 18 acres of land on the Wapsipinicon River near Central City in 1930. This land was cleared of brush and groomed for Scout use by Hanford Post veterans in October 1930. From April to June 1931, scores of World War I veterans designed and built the dining hall that is in use today. In 1933, the same veterans added a kitchen annex to the dining hall and built the main camp road, completing the initial work at Camp Waubeek.
Under the Slogan “Help Win the War”, the BSA assisted in the World War I effort by establishing 12,300 Scout farms under the slogan “Every Scout to Feed a Soldier”. Scouts also sold liberty loan bonds and saving stamps to tally almost $7 billion, and delivered 300 million pieces of government literature.
Scouts collected more than 50,000 tons of scrap metal and other recyclable material, and served as Dispatch Carriers during World War II. The BSA responded to 69 specific requests for service for the U.S. Government during 1941-1945. Scouts also planted 184,000 Victory Gardens, and 20,000 Scouts earned the General Douglas MacArthur Medal for growing food. The BSA was instrumental in the overall success of the War Bond Drive.
During the Korean War years, Scouts led the crusade to “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty”, and a program of cooperation in civil defense was initiated.
“Liberty’s Team”, and “Onward for God and Country” campaigns were launched, and more than a million posters and 30 million Liberty Bell doorknob hangers were placed in a “Get-Out-The-Vote” campaign.
During the 70’s and 80’s, through “Keep America Beautiful Day” and Project SOAR (Save Our American Resources), the BSA dedicated millions of hours of service to the betterment of America. Operation Reach, a campaign to fight drug addiction was initiated, and the “Strengthen America’s Heritage Program” was launched.
Today, Scouting continues to foster a sense of community service and volunteerism through participation in “Scouting for Food”, “Drugs: The Deadly Game”, and other projects.
A Place of Honor
 There are currently over 100 names of veterans or veterans’ organizations inscribed in a place of honor on the Memorial.
To commemorate a veteran on the wall, contact Ed Brandon at the Hawkeye Area Council Service Center (319) 862-0541.
Each name is sandblasted into the limestone for a $1000 contribution to the Memorial Fund (payable over up to five years). The net proceeds for the fund will help complete the renovation of the venerable Hanford Lodge, and to develop Camp Waubeek into a Cub World camping center for younger youth.
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