Veterans Memorial Park Dedication Ceremony - November 11, 2008
Just a few feet from where Elgin was founded in 1835, members of Shales McNutt Construction gathered with city and state officials, military veterans and Elgin citizens to dedicate a special memorial to all men and women who have served, and who continue to serve to protect our nation’s freedom.
Shales McNutt Construction acted as a design-build contractor for the memorial which features six flag poles to recognize each branch of the United States Military. Members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines raised each flag individually to the tune of their own marching song. A single flag was raised to the west of the others to remember soldiers missing in action and those taken prisoners of war which read ‘You are Not Forgotten.’
At this emotional ceremony Mayor Ed Schock, Gail Borden Public Library Executive Director Carole Medal, Chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee Jack Cook, Jerry Turnquist and Admiral Douglass T. Biesel spoke to a crowd of about 300 spectators. Each speaker expressed gratitude to those people who made the memorial possible and to all Elgin men, women and their families who the memorial was constructed to thank and remember.
Cook recognized the hard work of Shales McNutt Construction as he noted the ambitious one-year timeline that was set in completing the project. Project manager Steve Hendrickson and project Superintendents Roger VanPelt and John T. McNutt worked hard to ensure construction was completed as scheduled in preparation for the Veterans Day celebration.