All Veterans Park in Lincoln gets a facelift thanks to local veterans and boy scouts

 

[June 21, 2018] 

LINCOLN 

On Tuesday morning a big labor intensive job started at the All Veterans’ Park on Union Street in Lincoln. Volunteers representing the Veterans of Foreign War, American legion, Marine Corp League, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Logan County Veterans Assistance Commission, and local Scout Troop 1102 gathered at the park early in the day to begin pulling up the engraved bricks that are laid out around the large stone memorial in the center of the park.

The work started early and lasted throughout the day with volunteers coming and going as their schedule would permit. At noontime, staff and administrative members for Generations nursing home arrived with a delivery of food for the volunteers, plants for the memorial, and a check for $400 to be used to help cover the expenses of refurbishing the park.

By 10:30 a.m. work was well underway. Melanie Schaler was on hand and explained that the work is ongoing. She said that the bricks were sinking in certain spots and that the goal was to resolve that problem.

Michael Downing, Jack Bishop, and Gene Hickey explained that when the bricks were originally laid down it was on a bed of sand with no foundation. Therefore years of settling as well as water accumulation around the monument had cause the bricks to sink in certain areas. The group will be pulling up all the bricks, cleaning them and stacking them at the edge of the monument patio area.

 

The patio area will be dug out and a concrete floor will be poured. Sand will be laid back in on top of the concrete then the bricks will be returned to their resting spots.

Boy Scout William Trent will be working with the volunteers throughout the process. On Tuesday he was on hands and knees pulling up the bricks and scraping the excess sand off of them. The bricks were then handed off to Schaler, who was giving each brick a good scrub before they were set out to dry then added to the stack for safe keeping until they can be re-laid.

When the concrete is dried and the bricks are ready to go back in, Trent will also lead the task of cataloging the exact location of each brick in a journal. There is currently an index of the bricks in the patio but it is somewhat out of date, and of course, the order they go back into the patio may be different.

Bishop and Downing also talked about what caused the bricks to sink in the first place. When they had come out to the park to take a look at what needed done, it was very noticeable that the ground around the patio area was higher than the patio. When it rained a lot of the water ran onto the patio instead of away from it. To correct that problem, the group dug out the earth around the patio where it was too high and then re-seeded the grass. Now when it rains the water does not flow onto the patio.

Other changes that they have implemented at the park include the removal of the ten American flags that stood along Union Street. The park was originally erected by the Lincoln Amvets. Schaler said that Les VanBibber had said that at that time, the flags were placed in that location as a representation of the Ten Commandments.

The group decided to take them out because the poles were in bad condition, and though very patriotic, the flags also blocked much of the view of the park, the patio, and the large monument in its center.

After the removal of the flags, the Eagles Lodge in Lincoln held fundraisers and purchased a new sign to be placed near the road.

Talking with William Trent, he said that he had started out thinking that he would re-do the catalog of the bricks as his Eagle Scout project. However, that plan has changed. Trent explained that for the Eagle Scout certification he needs to lead the project, but he also has to document every step and every piece of work that it is involved. He said that the book he would have to put together would be too massive for the Eagle Scout Review Board, so he’s still looking for his Eagle Scout project.

At the same time, Trent said he felt very strongly about helping to get this park back in good condition, so he has decided that he will continue on with the project as a community service project.

At noon time representatives from Generations arrived with sandwiches, chips and cookies for everyone. They then presented a Check for $400 toward the project.

The check was presented by Generations Administrator Miranda Witt to Joe and Melanie Schaler representing all the military organizations involved in the restoration project.

On Tuesday morning volunteers said it was difficult to say exactly when this project will be completed. It depends on the weather and of course the number of volunteers they have helping. It is hoped that by mid-August, the park will be ready for an unveiling celebration.

Anyone who wishes to help need only show up. Come for the day or spend an hour or two, every hand will be appreciated regardless of how much time you have to give.

[Nila Smith with photos by Smith and Karen Hargis]