Communities in Pottawattamie County honor veterans, law enforcement and fire departments in various ways. Follow the Stars and Bronze Tribute Trail to discover our local heroes.
Each community in Pottawattamie County raised funds so that every town and city in the county has an “Eagle of Honor”, a hand-crafted bronze eagle statue to honor military veterans. Follow the green line on the Watta Way map to discover each community “Eagle of Honor”:
Crescent “Road to Honor” 100 Ferris Drive
McClelland “Heart of Honor” City Park at Railroad Ave and Main Street
Underwood “Liberty of Honor” U.M.B.A. Hall, 300 2nd Avenue
Neola “Colors of Honor” Centennial Park, 305 Front Street
Minden “Stars of Honor” Main and Broadway Street
Avoca “Pledge of Honor” Avoca City Hall, 201 Elm Street
Walnut “Walk of Honor” Fireman’s Park, 402 North Street
Carter Lake “Reflections of Honor” City Hall, 950 Locust Street
Council Bluffs “Freedom with Honor” RailsWest Museum, 500 16th Avenue
Treynor “Word of Honor” Treynor Community Center, 11 W. Main
Macedonia “Trail of Honor” School Park on main Street
Carson “Decades of Honor” City Hall, 316 S. Commercial Street
Oakland “Branches of Honor” 323 Oakland Avenue
Hancock “Call of Honor” Memorial Park, G30 onto W. Delta Street
100 Pearl Street, Council Bluffs
The Council Bluffs Veterans Plaza in Bayliss Park, 100 Pearl Street, serves the purpose of making people aware of the sacrifices of Pottawattamie County residents who gave so much to help Americans preserve their freedom. All branches of the military from the Civil War to the present are represented. Names inscribed on the memorial plaza identify military members who paid the ultimate price for service to our country. The plaza represents the passion and the vision of Pottawattamie County residents to honor all veterans.
Broadway at Main and Pearl, Council Bluffs
First responders from the Council Bluffs fire department, highway patrol, police department, sheriff department and 911 call center are represented in bronze in the Public Safety and First Responders Plaza, on Broadway at Main and Pearl in Council Bluffs. This plaza is dedicated to honoring all these local heroes. A walkway, representing the 911 call center that connects them, guides visitors between statues for a moment of respect and reflection.
226 Pearl Street, Council Bluffs
A blue horse without a rider is positioned outside the Historic Squirrel Cage Jail, 226 Pearl Street, Council Bluffs. This statue honors Deputy Mark Burbridge who was slain while on duty in 2017 in an attempted jail escape. The horse is covered in images important to Burbridge including motorcycles and a Sheriff’s Badge.
308 Highway 6, Oakland
Pottawattamie Freedom Rock, 308 US-6, Oakland, Iowa 51560
The Pottawattamie County Freedom Rock was painted in 2017, is rock #57, and features four veterans. The Pottawattamie Freedom Rock is situated in Chautauqua Park just off Highway 6 and near the Oakland Eagle of Honor plaza.
Major General Arnold W. Jacobsen of Walnut, Iowa, served as commanding officer of the Marine Corps Supply Depots during World War II.
John S. McCain Jr., born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, served in conflicts from the 1940s through the 1970s, including as the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command. He achieved Admiral in the Navy. McCain was the father of Sen. John McCain III of Arizona.
Sgt. Brent Maher of Honey Creek, Iowa, was killed by an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan with the Iowa Army National Guard.
General Frank F. Everest of Council Bluffs, Iowa, served as commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and commander of the Tactical Air Command
