Hobart wants an Army tank for Veterans Park

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Updated: March 7, 2012 9:48AM

HOBART — Efforts to place a military tank and field artillery equipment at Veterans Park have hit a snag.

Apparently, all the equipment is overseas, according to Councilman Jerry Herzog, D-1st, who is spearheading fundraising efforts to bring the equipment to Hobart.

In an email response to Herzog concerning the availability of the equipment, a representative for a Warren, Mich., company the city was hoping to work with said there is nothing to offer at this time. The company representative said the paperwork required still is valid, and “when something comes in your state area, that you fall within the request, you will be notified.”

Herzog said it looks doubtful that they will get the equipment by Memorial Day, but he is not giving up on the project.

He said Mike Adams, executive director of the Hobart Chamber of Commerce and a retired colonel in the Marines, also is looking into the matter.

“In the meantime, we’ll continue to raise funds for the project,” Herzog said last week.

He said they have already raised quite a bit of money, but are looking to raise more. Herzog did not say how much was raised so far.

While the equipment is free, Herzog has estimated $5,000 will be needed to decommission the pieces so nothing can be fired from them, transport them from the company in Wisconsin that decommissions the equipment to the park, plus money for a concrete pad to put them on, a plaque with a list of donors’ names and plantings.

Herzog said he is also working with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Motorcycle Club that is doing a bike run in August and wants to use the proceeds to improve the 40-acre park at 5899 E. 73rd Ave. with more shelters and upgrade the playground equipment.

Donations may be sent to American Legion Post 54, 208 S. Linda St., Hobart IN, 46342 and put in care of Monument Fund.