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 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.”
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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]
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