Elgin has groundbreaking Vets Day
Elgin's outdoor Veterans Day ceremony was equal parts solemn and joyous.
On the cloudy, chilly day that attracted more than 100 people, veterans -- many in uniform -- huddled under a tent and saluted the American flag, then placed their hands on their hearts while singing to Larkin High School students' rendition of the national anthem.
Smiles came when it was time to break ground on a veterans memorial park that will stand behind the Gail Borden Library between the river walk. Veterans of all ages, along with local politicians and dignitaries, dug into a mound of dirt with ceremonial shovels.
Sunday's ceremony aimed to both honor veterans and celebrate the upcoming memorial park, said Jack Cook, chairman of the project's committee and a World War II veteran.
Right now, there are four monuments in Elgin that pay respect to veterans from specific struggles, said Gordon Schnulle, a memorial committee member who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
The doughboy on Villa Street recognizes World War I soldiers and a pair of bronze cannons in front of the Elgin Area Historical Society is in remembrance of the 153 students and staffers from the nearby Elgin Academy who fought in the Civil War.
Another Civil War memorial is located in Bluff City Cemetery, as is an anchor that belonged to the U.S.S. Aaron Ward battle ship.
Aboard the ship was Richard Jacobs, the first Elgin resident killed in World War II during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Schnulle said.
There's no singular memorial that collectively pays homage to all Elgin veterans.
"This, in part, is a beginning of a new era for veterans in Elgin and surrounding communities," Cook said. "This is something we want people to use."
Rose Martinez, who served in the army in the 1980s during the conflict in Grenada, agreed.
"I think it's something well over due," the Elgin woman said. "It means a lot to the community and to veterans."
The committee originally hoped to build the memorial farther north, on the site of the city's former public works facility.
But those plans vanished earlier this year when officials learned the land is contaminated. So, instead, the committee began talks with city and library officials about moving the project closer to the library.
Library officials have said the memorial will tie in perfectly with other potential library projects that may include teaching gardens, a floating wetland and an illuminated fountain.
The city so far has set aside $250,000 for its construction and committee members will raise other money for the project, said city spokeswoman Sue Olafson.
Certain things still need to be hashed out, such as the size of the memorial, its exact location and how much of the area will be used, Cook said.
Still, he's confident those issues will be worked out swiftly and says he's already working on his speech for Veterans' Day 2008 -- when he hopes the memorial he calls "a blessing to the city of Elgin" will open.