AMBOY — The Amboy Veterans Park saw its beginning in 1919, started by the Amboy Women’s Club in the very same location as it occupies now. It was dedicated on Memorial Day 1920. At that time seven more trees were planted to represent the Amboy lives lost in World War I. Many restorations of the park have taken place in the past 99 years. These additions include the flagpole, many plaques and benches and of course the beautiful mural painted by Jim Ehman of this city. These murals were unfortunately lost in the 1993 fire, which claimed the Becker Auto Body, Lee County Cold Storage and Smitty’s Auto Salvage.

After Dennis Becker rebuilt the body shop, there was a large area of concrete to the west of Becker’s new building. This property was eventually donated to Post 453 Amboy American Legion by Lowell Beggs and Kai Conway. Now fast forward a few years:

After the area was donated, volunteer caretakers of the park, Don Schamberger and Doug Foster, wanted to find a way to use the west stub wall as a Veteran’s Memorial. Unfortunately, they both passed away before their plan was developed. In 2016 Jack Mead was appointed to explore ideas for the completion of the project. His wife Loreen Mead drew an artist’s sketch of what this wall could look like. Mead presented it to the Legion Post and it was approved. Then the sketch was taken to Dennis Donna of Dreamscapes where a plan was developed. The outcome of this ambitious undertaking turned out far beyond our expectations. The curbing created by Pete Donna to contain the Memorial Pavers is very impressive.

Then local artist, Loreen Mead, agreed to paint a mural to replace those lost in the 1993 fire. It was completed and put up in July of 2016 on the west wall of the Becker Autobody building. Thanks to Dennis and Sue Becker for allowing the legion to mount the mural on their west wall facing the park. Mead donated the mural and all materials. The mural has a somber message that fits well with the memorial theme.

With that, the legion began to consider further expansion of the park area. There was an area of rough uneven concrete between Becker’s and the park. The legion decided to remove this concrete and replace it with a green area, more fitting of a park. This began with former Mayor Tom Nauman and the city of Amboy removing the concrete and hauling in black dirt to grow grass and trees. Brad Kessel donated the dirt, Lilja Tiling provided trucking and Kessel also did the leveling. Others who helped were Kevin Shaw, Jim Hubble, Marvin Speers and the Amboy City employees.

Many others provided help, equipment and donations too numerous to mention and the legion wishes to thank them all very much. Trees to border the north edge were donated by Dennis Donna, as well as other trees. Randy Singleton donated two trees. The Ted Lilja family planted a tribute tree in his memory after his death.

An accident recently took out the shelter at the park. It also compromised the existing flagpole. After much thought a plan was formed for a new and more up to date flag honor area. This area now has contemplation benches surrounding the flagpoles where a flag will hang for each of the six branches of the service, with the American flag and the POW/MIA flag underneath of it. A special thanks to Carriage House Electric for helping to provide the lighting on the flags. Once again, Dreamscapes has done a remarkable job helping with ideas, planning and matching the Memorial Wall.

The Amboy Lions Club and the Ted Lilja family donated the flagpoles, which was a big boost for the project. Lilja was a member of both the Lions Club and the American Legion.