The permanent home for one of Mower County’s oldest memorials for soldiers is no longer on the rocks.

The boulder commemorating the 64 Mower County soldiers who lost their lives during World War I has found its permanent home at the Mower County Historical Society near the Sherman Tank. The Red Cedar Daughters of the American Revolution will hold a rededication ceremony for the boulder at 1 p.m. Friday at the new home for the memorial.

The DAR requested to move the boulder to the Mower County Veterans Memorial on the lawn of the Mower County Government Center last year; however, the Mower County Veterans Memorial Committee recommended the county board denied the request due to lack of space, among other concerns.

The WWI boulder memorial spent some time near the sign for the Austin Municipal Pool and had been near the flag pole by the pool, but was moved for the North Main Street flood mitigation work.

Mower’s DAR formed in 1921 and initially planted 64 elm trees near Todd Park to commemorate the 64 men who died in the “Great War.” The boulder was added there later. It is about 2 to 3 feet tall and includes a plaque with the names of all 64 men. Dutch elm disease and time wreaked havoc on the trees, which are no more. The remaining few were taken out in the 1990s for work to the Todd Park diamonds, according to Potter.

The boulder was then moved from Todd Park to near the pool.