Veterans positive Elgin memorial will be built

Elgin veterans say they've agreed in principle to a plan for a veterans memorial right next to the Gail Borden Public Library.

Now it's up to library board to decide whether to have the memorial on its land.

"I'm excited about it," said Jack Cook, chairman of the memorial committee. "Now all we need is the ratification of the site. Everybody seems to be positive."

The veterans committee originally had hoped to build the memorial farther north, on the site of the city's former public works facility.

But those plans hit a snag earlier this year when city officials learned there was additional environmental contamination on the land.

Rather than waiting another 18 months to build the memorial, veterans began talking with city and library officials about moving the project closer to the library.

Library officials have said all along they are interested in having the memorial close to the library.

For starters, library officials could direct visitors from the memorial to information on veterans inside the library.

Officials also have said the memorial would fit nicely with a proposed education resource center, which could include teaching gardens, a floating wetlands and an illuminated fountain.

"We're looking forward to exploring the situation," library spokeswoman Denise Raleigh said. "In the past we've worked very closely with the veterans."

Raleigh said the issue could come before the library board as early as its next meeting Oct. 9.

"I'm sure it will be something that will be considered for the agenda," she said.

If the library board does approve the plan, Cook said, he'd like to schedule some sort of ceremony at the site on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

That's when the veterans had hoped to break ground at the original site, before learning of the environmental problems.

"We hope to do that so we can at least have a kickoff," Cook said.