9/11 Tribute Foundation Plans Patriotic Park

Area for Proposed Patriotic Memorial

The Tri-State 9/11 Tribute Foundation is at work for next year’s event, set for September 12, 2015.  Doug Harbour and Carla Scranton, Foundation committee members, outlined plans for creation of a memorial park to be located at the south side intersection of Savage Avenue and Highway 287.  They also requested permission to develop a patriotic themed mural on the back wall of the Prowers County Sand and Sage Rodeo Grandstand.  “We plan to finance these projects through donations,” said Harbour, “but we would appreciate your permission to go ahead with plans as well as get a letter of support for them.”

The mural design would be developed through a contest, open to students in Prowers County.  Entries would be submitted to the Foundation by April 15 and would be judged by the Southeast Colorado Arts Council.  Harbour said the ideas from the top five winners would be incorporated into the design which the Arts Council would help in creating, using a professional artist.  “Once the fair gets underway this August, all the kids from the area will be invited to put their signed and dated hand prints as a border around the mural.  We think folks will appreciate the opportunity to pitch in with this,” Harbour added.

The second half of these ambitious plans center on the development of a healing memorial park dedicated to those who have served their country on a national or local level.  Harbour described the area that would be showcased by a 20 foot tall heart.  One half of it would be dedicated to military veterans and the reverse side would honor first responders.  A fountain in the shape of a cross would be positioned in the center of the heart.  The centerpiece would be flanked by two pedestals which would feature a military helicopter and a civilian ambulance.  Plans also describe statues of a firefighter and a soldier saluting the American Flag which would be placed at the park’s entrance.  “One other idea we have would be using high school students from the shop department to create metal statues similar to the ones graduating classes have set up on the median at the top of Savage Avenue,” Harbour explained.  He estimated the cost of the project to be around $50,000.

Harbour told the Commissioners the response to the next September event has been well received.  “We’ve already got a commitment from the 4^th Infantry Division Marching Band to return to take part in the Saturday morning parade on the 12^th,” he said.

By Russ Baldwin