A new vision for Keyes City Park despite the frustrations

Another Friday night confrontation between young people in Keyes City Park is a continuing frustration for Du Quoin police officers.

Chief of Police Jamie Ellermeyer said the confrontation was between young individuals and had little or nothing to do with racial issues.

Ellermeyer said officers followed through after the incident, trying to identify combatants. Rumored reports that it was much larger are apparently untrue.

Ellermeyer said the city is dealing with an electrical service in the pavilion being torn up one weekend and service at the nearby skateboard park being torn up on another.

At best, the recent turn of events is disheartening.

All of this is the backdrop for a new vision for the veterans plaza (the mound) in the center of the park.

Members of the Du Quoin Volunteer Foundation--which only two weeks ago donated $3,000 for the purchase of a new microfilm reader and storage computer for the library--have broached the subject of taking how we honor Du Quoin's veterans to the next level. They would like to expand on the veterans memorial--last redone during the nation's bicentennial in 1976 by Mayor Armstrong and commissioner Tom Moss--to somehow replace the Memorial Day and Veterans Day flag display at the Du Quoin State Bank park with a more substantial remembrance.

The idea of somehow installing a secure and protected "eternal flame" or a memorial fountain is being considered. These are high quality visions and thoughtful plans to honor the men and women who have served our community and our nation.

But , the entire community has to somehow buy into this idea that respect and dignity and fellowship and sense of community is far more important than a Friday night fight or errant vandalism.