Members of Kappa Sigma fraternity grabbed their gloves and landscaping tools Wednesday to help at the Veterans Memorial Park.
The VMP board had 70 plants to put into the ground, and the brothers of the Alpha-Pi chapter at Wabash College came to the rescue and planted the vegetation before cold air arrives for good.
Local landscaping architect Steve Galegor donated his time to draw up the landscape plan for the park on South Washington Street. He was on site Wednesday to instruct the students on how to plant the shrubs and rose bushes.
Several of the 14 students who volunteered have family members who have served in the armed forces.
Fraternity president Phenix Carney said the brotherhood donates to veterans in numerous ways every year, including its participation with the Military Heroes Campaign. The local fraternity chapter celebrated its 130th year on the Wabash campus and decided to help at the VMP.
“We wanted to do something local in our community and our town,” Carney said. “My father was an Air Force veteran and I come from a long line of veterans. Being a son of a veteran this is a way to send our respect to those who have served our country.”
VPM board member Mike Spencer was grateful for the help. It took the students less than two hours to plant all the shrubs and rose bushes. Spencer thanked Wabash College employee Mike Warren for helping recruit the fraternity.
“We are grateful for Mike Warren who helped get us connected to the fraternity,” Spencer said. “It is great to see guys from Wabash College lending us a hand.”
Wabash College sophomore Eric Tien of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who had an uncle who was a Vietnam War veteran, said helping at the park was an honor.
“I believe this is a way we can show appreciation for the veterans for what they did,” Tien said. “My fraternity brothers can drive by the park and remember we had a hand in making the park.”
Being a part of the legacy of the park and helping with the landscaping was important to Wabash senior Jett Brownlee of St. Paul, Minnesota. He said his uncle recently retired from the Air Force.
“I think this is a great project,” Brownlee said while digging a hole for an evergreen shrub. “Veterans deserve the recognition and I am glad to do something for them.”
Spencer said there are numerous other jobs to be completed at the park and volunteers would be much appreciated. Any local group interested in helping at the park should contact Spencer at 765-366-9883.
