St. Charles
County News
News & Information on trends, events and business in the St. Charles County including the cities of St. Charles, O'Fallon and St. Peters, Missouri
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(L. to R.) O'Fallon Mayor Paul F. Renaud, Mark Scott Carroll, designer of The Walk, Sheldon B. Hartsfield, director of the MO Eastern District of the Vietnam Veterans of America and Missouri State Senator Ted House, 2nd District, stand behind the wreath at the Veterans Memorial Walk. The wreath bears a commemorative medallion of The Walk.
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First Anniversary of the
O'Fallon Veterans
Memorial Walk Celebrated
by Bob Moore, SLFP.com
© 2002 Saint Louis Front Page
O'FALLON, MO, (SLFP.com), November 11, 2002 - Dozens of war veterans and their families attended the O'Fallon Veterans Memorial Walk, November 11, for a special Veterans Day ceremony.
"The Walk," dedicated one year ago on Veterans Day, is comprised of a platoon of bronze boots, 64 pairs installed left foot forward, as though marching. A lone pair of boots has been placed before the standard of the POW/MIA flag, in recognition of the American soldiers who remain missing in the field.
Prior to remarks by O'Fallon Mayor Paul F. Renaud, keynote speaker Missouri State Senator Ted House, 2nd District, St. Charles, offered memories of his father, who served as a machine gunner in WW1 and was wounded by a dose of mustard gas.
After the ceremony Mark Scott Carroll, designer of the memorial, spoke with St. Louis Front Page, about the significance of the boots. "The inspiration for this memorial came from my father, who is a WWII veteran. When I asked him how he would want to be remembered and all the stories he had told me, he was very humble about it. I started thinking about the common denominator encountered by people who have served in the military. And that is the boots," stated Carroll.
"I started to think about what it would be like to have walked in my father's shoes. It reminded me of the old Native American saying, "you don't know what it's like until you walk ten miles in another man's moccasins," reflected Carroll.
For Carroll, who has never served in the military, that poignant thought changed everything. "Until we, as citizens who have not served, begin to understand or imagine what it's like leaving home, leaving loved ones, loosing people and then coming back and not being respected or being provided for, injured..." said Carroll, pausing for a moment. "That's the one thing I want to make the priority of the design - walking in the other person's shoes."
The platoon of boots is flanked by five towering, stainless steel and white granite monoliths bearing the seal of each of the five branches of the Armed Forces - the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.
He noted that the unique formation of the boots face west so that the sun will always shine on the spirit. "When the sun sets in the west, it reflects off the stainless steel and illuminates the monument," stated Carroll.
As a professional graphic artist, Carroll has worked on many community projects for the City of O'Fallon including the municipal seal and the flag. He stated proudly that this project has been the highlight of his career.
The ceremony was sponsored by the City of O'Fallon and several veterans organizations: the Veterans Memorial Walk Committee, VFW Post 5077 and Ladies Auxiliary, Am Vets Post 106 and Ladies Auxiliary, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 458, and Marine Corps League Detachment 725. The National Anthem was sung by Jamie Hitt. Following a three-gun rifle salute, Bill Pettys, AMVETS Post 106, played taps. Additional music was provided by the Fort Zumwalt North High Orchestra.
See archived story: 'The Walk' Memorial in O'Fallon Honors War Veterans
County to Build One-of-a-Kind Youth Park
ST. CHARLES, MO, (SLFP.com), October 13, 2002 - St. Charles County Government will take skaters to the extreme with its planned Youth Activity Park near Dardenne Prairie with 33,000 square feet of surface for skateboarding.
City officials broke ground, Oct 10, for Phase one of the Youth Activity Park. The facility, which is expected to open spring 2003, will be the largest such facility statewide.
St. Charles County Executive Joe Ortwerth has made the Youth Activity Park a top priority to provide a positive social and recreational environment for kids. "Our kids are a vital
part of this community and they need somewhere other than the mall to get together and have fun. This new park will give them just that. The skateboard facility alone will be incredible - largely due to the fact that the youth who will use it helped to design it. We are excited to provide such a unique and exciting facility for our young people to call their own," said County
Executive Ortwerth.
The 25-acre park will ultimately provide a BMX trick-track, sand volleyball courts, paved court areas, open-turf play areas and trails for walking, jogging, biking and in-line skating. Upon completion in 2004, the Youth Activity Park will also offer an indoor activity center with a climbing wall accessible both inside and out, a game room, concessions, and an open area for special activities.
According to St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Director Bettie Yahn-Kramer, "The planned design of the Youth Activity Park is geared specifically toward young people. We wanted their input and after gathering their ideas, we are confident the park will be exactly what they want. This will be their place."
Archived News:
St. Charles County Receives Outstanding Planning Award
Living History Weekend Portrayed
Life During the Civil War
Ameristar Casino St. Charles Brings Las Vegas Entertainment to St. Louis
Harley Davidson Riders Travel the Lewis & Clark Trail from St. Charles
Embassy Suites Hotel Planned Adjacent
to Proposed St. Charles Convention Center
Missouri Floods Are Costly For Those Caught Unprepared
Groundbreaking for O'Fallon Water Treatment Plant
County Seeks Task Force Members for Master Plan 2015
St. Charles Expedition Reenact the portion of the Lewis & Clark Expedition on the Ohio River
Pioneer Days at Daniel Boone Home
Bass Pro Shops Arrives in St. Charles
Ameristar Rolls Out New Master Plan
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