Dozens of people gathered on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 for the dedication of new monuments and a sculpture at Veterans Freedom Park in downtown Logansport.
The park, owned by Logansport Municipal Utilities, is located at the corner of 6th and Market Streets, south of the Logansport City Building, where the H.W. Gossard factory once stood.
Last November, the Roosters celebrated the park’s first phase – the installation of flags representing various branches of the military.
When we posted a photo of the flags at the park being raised, Logansport High School government teacher Kasia (Bannon) Minnick commented on the post on our Facebook page.
“I have been praying for Logansport to welcome a Veterans Park for several years,” she wrote. “This is the location I had picked out. Thank you, Cass County Roosters!”
In April, local sorority Tri Kappa announced a community-wide fundraising effort to help grant “Kasia’s Wish.”
“I’m really glad the Roosters have placed the flags in the Veterans Freedom Park at 6th and Market, but I’d really like to see something there that speaks to children, to let them know the importance of patriotism and honoring veterans,” Minnick was quoted as saying.
Minnick, who was battling stage 4 colon cancer, passed away on June 7.
That month, granite monuments dedicated to each branch of the military were installed in the center of the park.
This week, the “I Love My Country” sculpture purchased with funds raised by the community was installed at the southeast corner of Veterans Freedom Park, along Market Street.
A ceremony to dedicate the park’s newest additions was held Saturday, Oct. 10.
Dawn Fisher spoke on behalf of Tri Kappa and said Minnick had left the community with a “homework assignment.”
A plaque bearing this quote from Kasia Minnick will be installed near the sculpture:
“One of the best gifts we can give our children is a love of family and a love of our country. We must teach our children the importance of respecting and honoring those who have served.”