Monday, October 08, 2012
10/8/2012 9:14:00 AM Open Forum: Peru lacks appropriate memorial to honor those who served
Most Americans, city, state and national respect and honor our veterans. We view it on television and hear it on our local radio stations on occasions such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, honoring a World War II veteran or paying respect to a serviceman killed while fighting for our country. More than likely we all are related to or know someone who has served in the military. The NewsTribune places a flag close to the name of a veteran who has died in his or her obituary and the veterans groups do a great job saluting our veterans at funerals.
Recently in our local NewsTribune there was an article and two photos of the dedication of the Veterans Memorial in the small town of Troy Grove. The article told of how a person by the name of Shane Bice spent his summer seeking volunteers and donations to help make the memorial a reality, and with much success. Many people gathered for the dedication. What a tremendous job! 147 names of veterans either currently serving or who have served in the past.
I have toured some of our surrounding towns including Oglesby, Spring Valley, Marseilles, Ladd and Ottawa and have admired their memorial walls of names of those veterans who have served as far back as World War I, a star by those who gave their lives. I can’t help but wonder, and it bothers me, why the city of Peru has never created a memorial wall for those from this city who have served in the many wars our citizens have served or given their lives for. I realize in the year 2010 Peru celebrated 175 years with a parade and the dedication of a memorial in Veterans Park depicting the different branches of service.
However in my estimation that is not a memorial wall. Just what would it take to get this done?
Esther Sparks
Peru
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21 comments:
What are the purple banners tied to the power poles downtown for? Who put them up?
I AGREE WITH ESTHER SPARKS ! I'M A VIETNAM VETERAN AND WE SHOULD HAVE A BETTER WALL THEN WHAT WE HAVE . I'M SURE THE CITY OF PERU CAN AFFORD IT . WITH PICKLE BALL AND A NEW POOL , THIS SHOULDN'T BE HARD FOR THE UNION MAYOR TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY , WITH THE HELP OF THE GOOD OL BOYS !
I have been saying the same thing for years. When this whole thing started when Baker was mayor the library in Utica was collecting the names of all from Peru who served and the years kept going by and I asked the question of what had happened to the project and no one had an answer. You would think that our Economic Director Mr. Vickrey would try to get this to happen being that according to his election b.s. he is such a big veteran!
Domestic Violence Awareness. Group put them up
Kelsey is taking orders from Alderman Bob A. Ron's just doing what he's told!
What does Mr, Kelsey have to do with the veterans things? I thought he was the fireworks guy.
Peru has a Pearl Harbor Day at South Shore Boat Club every year. Isn't Alderman Bob A. A part of the organizer for that service? Bless all or Veterans and Servicemen and Servicewomen.
Yes 5:12, and Bob also organizes the our community Veteran's Day Services held at Centennial Park. He also coordinates with the three Peru schools with their programs held every year on 11/11. Sorry for all of you critics of the council but no one dos more to represent local veterans than Bob and he seeks no recognition for this.
Hey 9:51 veteran, instead of yelling stupid anonymous comments in all caps, why don't you organize an effort to start a memorial? In most communities the veterans are very involved. Peru should not be funding this alone right now. These things come from grass roots organization.
Mr. Ankiewicz has also been instrumental in the Veterans Park display honoring those who served our country. He has been a advocate for numerous veterans groups, organized Pearl Harbor memorial, placed flags on the graves of soldiers, represented veterans at hundreds of burials, provides cookouts at the veterans homes and many other functions. He does this without fanfare or publicity. The memorial with names of each soldier from the City of Peru would take a great deal of research and time. You also have the likely chance that some one will be ommitted. The display at Veterans Park is fantastic and serves all branches of the military. Its a great idea to have a memorial wall and the veterans deserve the recognition.
well 901 if your so smart then run for mayor ! i've asked mr. a about a list for veterns up at the memoral and he said it would be to expensive to keep changeing it ! so if you don't like CAPITALS THEN DON'T READ IT .
1:42 YOU MAKE PERFECT SENSE.
To 1:42- Goodness, Blogging about someones intelligence. Your spelling has alot to be desired. Respect our veterans and learn to spell Veterans And yes, I will capitalize VETERANS. MEMORIAL (spelled correctly). CHANGING (spelled correctly).
For a city to have a park with its name being Veterans Park that was erected several years ago. It's an awful shame that there is not a proper memorial wall. But, the city has had the monies for an Olive Garden Dinner, signs for street improvements with Mayor Harls name on them!!
The entrance area of the park has a fantastic memorial to honor veterans.
Everyone around here always seems to focus on building plaques and statues, and having dinners and parties to honor veterans. Alderman A certainly should be commended for his efforts in those areas. But I cannot help but feel those brother and sisters who laid down their lives for our freedom would like a different type of memorial. The would want a transparent and just local government, free of the back room deals and cronyism that has plagued Peru for so long. I believe the would cry out for one instance of compromise over a plaque, one instance of true honest change. Remember them when you vote in the election this spring. Become informed and listen to all sides of the issues. Do not vote based on well recognized family names, vote on substance. Insist on it. Demand town meetings for your wards, get to know the candidates, go to the council meetings and see what is happening.
Change is not always about replacing the people. Sometimes its about reminding them who they work for and represent. Those vets died for democracy, make this election be their memorial. Make them proud.
The original Veterans Park in the city of Peru in at 3rd and Schuyler Streets.
For some reason this park is now named Rotary Park and the complex of baseball fields North of Peru are referred to as Veterans Park.
The original Veterans Park has one of the most beautiful monuments in the state dedicated to veterans which exists year after year without proper upkeep and landscaping. Normally the monument is overgrown with weeds as is the rest of the park.
Incidentally this park would be a great site for Peru's band concerts. Much better than the present site. It is peaceful, with plenty of trees for shade and grass to place a chair upon.
If the Maud Powell statue could be relocated her present location would make a great pickle ball court. Tennis is played on clay, grass or a hard surface. Volleyball is played on grass, sand or a hard surface. Why can't a pickle ball court be played on these surfaces also? This would allow the much used 28th street tennis court to be used once again for its intended purpose.
7:23 Good idea until you wanted to play pickleball on Route 6! Pickleballs don't bounce so sand would be very difficult. Clay would be ok, but lots of upkeep. Your idea of placing the game in traffic may be ideal for you, but create problems for those that enjoy the game. One good point is that it would be located by one of the most delicous pizza/sub restaurants in the Illinois Valley. Pickle and a Pizza has a nice ring to it.
301 must be a city employee or some stupid city family member ! get over it already ! stupid !
9:02 PM
How about the city parking lot in back of the pizza place. Plenty of room, plenty or parking and they could have a pizza at the pizzaman's expense.
Lois, that is perfect since the pizza man has been appointed to keep a watchful eye on the court at 28th St.
I'd really like to know who has the authority to do that 10:16 and why someone would even have to keep an eye on the court. Wasn't it said that the 28th st. park has the least amount of vandalism? Did someone think that one of the neighbors would harm the ambassadors nets? Childish and pathetic!!
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