In honor of Memorial Day 2011: Ronald Reagan Park in Tampico, Illinois

Ronald Reagan Park,
February 6, 2011

The Reagan family twice called Tampico, Illinois home. The future president was born in the small town in 1911 and lived there until 1914. The Reagans returned to Tampico in 1919 then relocated to nearby Dixon a year later.

"Dutch" like to play in what is now Ronald Reagan Park and was fond of the Civil War cannon on display there. That piece of artillery was melted down in a World War II scrap drive.

But the Civil War monument, photographed on Reagan's 100th birthday, still keeps an eye on the park, as it has since 1907.

The Tampico Area Historical Society is raising money to build a Reagan bronze statue which will portray Dutch standing on top of that cannon.

Related posts:

Report from Tampico, Illinois on Reagan's 100th birthday
Reagan centennial: Tampico's churches
Reagan centennial: Ronald Reagan Park in Tampico, IL
In honor of Memorial Day 2011: San Francisco's Union Square

Technorati tags: politics Reagan republican Ronald Reagan reagan centennial historyamerica usa military armed forces Americana memorial day civil war patriotism