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THE LIBERTY BELL FLOAT

Picture of Liberty Bell Float
    This Cedar County Bicentennial Commission Float was made by the Lowden Bicentennial Commission members and entered in many of the parades during Bicentennial Celebrations.

    As our Bicentennial Year of these United States is drawing to a close, I must reminisce a little about one of the most exciting projects I have been involved . . .

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. . . in. Our Cedar County Bicentennial Commission float was built by the Lowden Bicentennial Commission members.

     As early as 1972, Cedar County began preparing for the Bicentennial. The idea of a promotional float became a reality when the Lowden group agreed to build it. The first parade in which the float would be entered was to be at Mechanicsville on May 24, 1975. Three months of work by about 16 or 18 people accomplished this by finishing the float on May 23rd.

     The float traveled 1140 miles in 1975. It was rebuilt somewhat for this year 1976, but basically remained the same. In the year 1976, it traveled 2400 miles. It led the Iowa State Fair Parade both years. We traveled to cities from Clinton to Marshalltown and from Stacyville to Ottumwa.

     To the center and front of the float was the American Flag placed at a higher position than the Iowa Flag to its right and the Bicentennial Flag to its left. Next was a flying eagle soaring above a scroll. On one side of the scroll was the Declaration of Independence and on the other side was the Bill of Rights. Both were written in script by Everett Kruckenberg.

     Next was a full size replica of the Liberty Bell, made of fiberglass cloth and resin. The letters on the bell were all individually molded, glued on, and again covered with resin. On the sides of the float was an official bicentennial slogan. On the back of the float was the Bicentennial Motto, “A past to remember, a future to mold.”

     As we traveled these 3500 miles in approximately 35 to 40 parades, we received much applause. The little children would say, “Oh! The Liberty Bell.” People stood at attention and saluted the flag. I honestly feel that in every parade, we developed new friendships.

     These words taken from Leviticus 25:10, “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All The Land Unto All The Inhabitants Thereof”, that were cast and molded on the bell, still are basis of our Great Democracy-These United States of America.

              NORMAN AND ELFRIEDA KROEMER

Symbol of Bicentennial

“Be American, Let there be so sectionalism, no North, South, East or West: Yu are all dependent one on another and should be one in union. In one word, be a nation: be Americans, and true to yourselves.”

-- George Washington

“We can remember the past with flags and parades and fireworks as President Adams envisioned in the first summer of our independence, but to honor the past, we must hand this magnificent experiment in self-government on to future generations, free and strong.”

-- Gerald R. Ford