May 12th, 2010
Author: editorThe Justice Park District and the Village Board is seeking to relocate the Veteran’s memorial on Oak Grove and Frontage Road as soon as the end of this month. While the Justice Park District is proposing to foot the bill, and make a nice memorial garden as well it just doesn’t seem to make sense to move the memorial to our Veteran’s from the most visible thoroughfare in town, to the Southwest corner in Commissioners Park. When digging into the matter further it seems that the park district is looking to develop the land that the current memorial stands on into a sign/advertising space for the Justice Park District.
Why the Park District cannot add themselves onto the sign that lists businesses in town that is located in the space on the opposite corner of Frontage Road seems to be a mystery. Earlier this year park district Trustee Dan McGee was proposing the purchase of a cannon and the renaming of Commissioners Park to Veteran’s Park and maybe this move is an attempt to move his idea into reality. Even more interesting is that with exception of Trustee Murray who abstained from voting, all the Trustees on the village board voted in favor of this, even more puzzling is why Trustee Mary McGee, wife of park district Trustee Dan McGee didn’t abstain from the vote due to a very apparent conflict.
The current memorial stone that had stood in that spot for more years than most people can remember was donated to the village by a local stone mason to commemorate the service of our local Veterans. It seems to make sense to show our respect and to honor our veterans in one of the most prominent spots in town. While improving the veteran’s memorial is a wonderful idea, there is no reason that some funding cannot be allocated to improve the memorial where it is currently standing.
We are suggesting to all of the residents that have contacted us via the website asking about this matter to take this opportunity to contact the Mayor and the Trustees to protest the relocation of this memorial. We would suggest that you send correspondence to the attention of the Village Clerk, 7800 S Archer Ave, Justice, Il 60458.
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Ok, so wait, let me get this straight, we’ll move it, make it nicer, so we can get better advertising space? Next are we going to start proposing we dig up bodies over at the cemetary to get some better advertising space too? this is in poor poor taste and just sad. There are plenty of alternate spaces the park district could use that would be just as nice. They need to reconsider this. Trustee McGees and Bartoszek both have conflicts and should have refrained from voting on this Monday evening.
Fix the memorial up where it currently stands!!!!
I agree, these men and women gave their lives for our country, and our Village thinks their memorial belongs behind a building? Who in their right minds would even think of doing that, if they want to move it somewhere put it in front of the Village Hall. Disrespecting our Veterans for a sign for the park district, UNBELIEVABLE. People you need to rise up and stop this.
what a disgrace! leave the memorial alone! fix it up but don’t stick it to the back of the park!
never thought i’d see a day that people would vote FOR something like this being a good idea. really really sad. people need to get together to send a message to stop this from happening it’s disrespectful to relocate a memorial like this!?!
I was told the Mayor said it’s a done deal and nothing can be done. Obviously this Mayor doesn’t know this town and it’s residents. Also, I was told this is a political thing. This has nothing to do with politics, this is disgraceful I don’t care what party you are in we need to stand up for those Veterans. We need all the residents to get together no matter what political party, what religion, those Veterans didn’t fight for a set group of people they fought for all of us and now it’s time to fight for them.
Scooter is right. This isn’t about politics, I’m not a member of your party and I don’t want to see this happen. It is a disgrace you are right. We need to stand up and say no. You guys offered good suggetions like moving it in FRONT of the village hall. Everyone needs to work together as a community to get this out there and heard!!!!!
we got there in 1980, it was already there, thats 30 years that we know of. why move it now? isnt there open land on the other side of the street by Why-Not’s that they can put advertising up? next that dorky little shack they have for a park district is gonna want to buy those few little houses from the memorial to their little shack for their purposes as well!!! in fact, the park district barely existed until 2000! there was that land next to the police station they could have used for the park district, but instead built that mini mart and there arent any businesses in it!! why cant they put a giant sign in front of the village hall and police station? o wait, next they are gonna need a new police station, lol, now that is a joke. and further more, i personally liked living on the “old” side of town, it was quieter and kept the riff raff out and now because of the park district right there, it has brought so much “business” into that little area of town…..now thats sad. i couldnt believe what i seen when we were in town a few weeks back what has happened! and poor why-nots isnt even open anymore…very sad
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I sent emails to the trustees at the village hall but no one ever replied to me!!!!!!!!!
To the North Sider: Is that a surprise? They don’t want to hear from you, they don’t listen to the residents. The only time they care about the residents is during election time and then they tell you anything you want to hear, they won’t of course come through, but they will promise. Now this issue is serious and they are all being ostriches, hiding their heads in the sand, so they don’t have to deal with it, or they will all start pointing fingers saying it was someone else’s idea. We need to stop this now, and we all need to do whatever we can to do that. Sooner or later one of them have to stand up, but I can’t guarantee that. All I know is that none of these Veterans buried their heads in the sand, they stood up and fought for each and everyone of us and that is what we need to do for them, whether the Trustees or the Mayor like it or not.