G.A.R. Highway
Major William L. Anderson, Jr., of the U.S. Army conceived the idea of designating U.S. 6 the
Grand Army of the Republic Highway to honor the Union forces during the Civil War. Based on his recommendation, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War began promoting the idea in April 1934. Because the highway was owned by the States, the organization asked each State to act on the proposal. The first to do so was Massachusetts when Governor Charles F. Hurley signed a bill on February 12, 1937, naming the route. Over the years, the States gradually adopted the name. For example, California did so in 1943 and Indiana in 1946, while Governor James Duff of Pennsylvania named the State's segment of U.S. 6 in 1948.
A formal dedication of the Grand Army of the Republic Highway took place on May 3, 1953, in Long Beach. The occasion was a gathering of the five related service organizations, including the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. The five organizations held their own meetings, but came together for the dedication on that Sunday afternoon to place a monument in front of the Municipal Auditorium: Extending a distance of three thousand six hundred fifty-two miles through fourteen states the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War worked to name the highway in memory of the heroic services and unselfish devotion of the Union soldiers, sailors and marines who laid down their lives on the altar of sacrifice during the Civil War.
The Department of Iowa Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is currently undertaking a project to re-mark the Grand Army of the Republic Highway across Iowa. The initial goal is to be sure that each town along historic U.S. Highway 6 that had a GAR Post in the past has signs placed in accordance with correspondence between the GAR and the State Highway Commission from 1947-1948.
September 28, 2017, marked the 70th Anniversary of the formal dedication ceremony to name U.S. Highway 6 across Iowa as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.
It was at 2:00 in the afternoon on Sunday, September 28, 1947, when Iowa’s two remaining Civil War veterans James Martin and Ebenezer McMurray came together at the Old Capitol Building in Iowa City with Governor Robert Blue, other dignitaries, and a crowd of about 400 people for the formal dedication of the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.
As the proposed marker sign for the highway was unveiled, Governor Blue proclaimed “the deeds that Civil War veterans performed have not been forgotten.”
(Iowa City Press-Citizen, 29 September 1947, p. 1)
And, “We dedicate this highway today as a symbol of unity between these 48 states from coast to coast, to the vision of the boys of the Civil War, and to the future, for these men have left to us a heritage of freedom.”
(Des Moines Register, 29 September 1947, p. 1)
Iowa Civil War Generals Memorial Bridge Project
Beginning in 2007, the Department of Iowa Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War began memorializing Iowa's Civil War Generals by naming bridges along the Grand Army of the Republic Highway through Iowa in their honor. Eleven bridges have been named in honor of twelve Generals.
Major General Grenville Mellon Dodge
Missouri River, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co.
Brevet Major General of Volunteers James Alexander Williamson
West Nishnabotna River, Oakland, Pottawattamie Co.
Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis
East Nishnabotna River, Lewis, Cass Co.
Major General Francis Jay Herron
Middle River, Casey, Guthrie Co
Brevet Major General Edward Hatch
South Raccoon River, Redfield, Dallas Co
Major General Elliot Warren Rice and Brigadier General of Volunteers Samuel Allen Rice
North Raccoon River, Adel, Dallas Co.
Brigadier General Marcellus Monroe Crocker
Des Moines River, Des Moines, Polk Co.
Brevet Brigadier General James Baird Weaver
South Skunk River, Colfax, Jasper Co.
Brevet Brigadier General James Wilson
North Skunk River, Kellogg, Jasper Co.
.
Brevet Major General John Murray Corse
Iowa River, Iowa City, Johnson Co
Brevet Major General William Vandever
Cedar River, Moscow, Muscatine Co.