Caleb Coogan Memorial Playground dedicated at Mount Pulaski Grade School

 

[August 23, 2018] 

On Sunday, August 19, 2018, a nice crowd gathered at the south end of the Mount Pulaski Grade School property to dedicate the school playground in memory of Caleb Coogan. Caleb was a sixth grade student at MPGS when he was killed in an ATV accident on September 6, 2017.

Over the past several months plans to improve the playground and add equipment have been underway and with donations pouring in, this summer those plans became reality for the children of Mount Pulaski.

Heather Fricke, Co-President of PASE (People Acting for Students and Education) conducted the ceremony on Sunday before a large crowd of volunteers, including parents and children, who all helped to make the playground a success.

Fricke, who began by thanking the Coogan family, went on to say, “Additionally we would like to thank the students, faculty, staff, parents and community members in our community and far beyond, for their many contributions to this project. Some of the contributions came in the form of volunteer hours at the memorial 5K and others at Christmas on Vinegar Hill. Other contributions came in the form of a check and still others came in the form of a small child placing their only penny in a jug. All of these contributions, no matter the size, played a meaningful role in the completion of this project.”

Many volunteers also spent countless hours preparing the grounds for the new equipment, the drainage system beneath the flooring and the flooring itself. Caleb’s father J.C. Coogan and Caleb’s grandfather Jim Boy Coogan headed up the efforts to remove the previous rubber chipping and excavate the playground in order to put down the new wood chipping. As with any small community, a slew of volunteers helped to ensure that the new playground would be safe and beautiful for the children.

After Fricke spoke, she asked J.C. Coogan if he would like to say anything. He spoke off the cuff and emotionally.

“Thank you so much for everything,” began Coogan. “The playground equipment is awesome. All the donations, all the money, is awesome. But I was thinking today, there is so much more here at work than just money.”

Motioning to the crowd, Coogan continued, “Everybody out here has helped us to heal. Our little community, with the loss of Micah Wakeman, Evan Connor and Caleb Coogan, they’ve not stopped giving. You people have not stopped. A person can run out of money, but you people’s souls have not run out of goodness. I don’t know, I’m so impressed. We should all look at each other and be impressed with each other. It’s amazing. And it just keeps on going, too.”

“A guy told me one time after Caleb passed that Caleb had a big soul and when he left, he was allowed to take a piece of everybody’s soul with him that he was close to. All of you. All your souls helped my soul grow back again. If that sounds right, I don’t know. It works. I know that. There’s something going. There’s something going on. It’s bigger than we know. I know that for sure. I thank the Lord and everybody else involved for every day. My family, we’ve done well and we’re still doing well, thanks to everybody.” Coogan concluded with a hand clap and “Love all of you…and God.”

Mark Weber, senior minister at the Mount Pulaski Christian Church, followed Coogan and he immediately said, “I think he needs to be a preacher.”

Coogan commented, “I could go on longer.” The heavy-hearted crowd managed a chuckle.

“It’s been amazing to see what God’s done in this family and in this community through some pretty devastating times,” began Weber.

As Weber asked for God’s blessing on the playground he mentioned how special children are to Jesus. Weber also noted how important teachers and parents are in a child’s life, as he gazed around the crowd filled with little ones anxiously waiting to play, yet hanging onto their parents ever so patiently.

“This playground is such a fitting memorial to Caleb,” said Weber. “He was full of life and joy and laughter. He’ll have this legacy that will bring life and joy and laughter to others. When we think about the boys and girls that will be running and playing and laughing on these grounds, it’s just a reminder of Caleb and also it could be a reminder of the promises of God.”

Weber asked for God’s blessing as the community stood in silence waiting for the dedication of the playground in memory of the young boy who, according to friends, treated everybody with kindness.

Caleb’s older sister, Claire, cut the ribbon that adorned the memorial sign.

With the cutting of the ribbon, Fricke announced to the many children waiting patiently that the playground was, “Open for play at this time.”

Moments later the playground was full of life and joy and laughter, just like Weber said.

[Teena Lowery]