It’s been two years since many of the people at the end of 18th Street on Friday had met in the same spot for the unveiling of the Road of Honor signs. This time they were back to recognize progress on the project as a ceremonial groundbreaking was held.
Ceremonial, because the first block of S. 18th St. south of Main has been deconstructed already as the project to repave the street from Main to the Keokuk National Cemetery is underway.
Keokuk Mayor Kathie Mahoney welcomed everyone to the site saying it was a momentous occasion, gathering to break ground for the Road of Honor.
“Today we break ground on a road that will lead to the hallowed grounds of our Keokuk National Cemetery, ensuring better access and tribute for generations to come,” she said.
She said she could assure everyone that the project was started and will be finished in honor of all those who have served the U.S. as well as those who will be serving in the future.
“The willingness of American Veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude,” she said. “It is with this quote, we build this road.”
Mahoney spoke about the various people who have been involved with the project, and some of those people spoke or had representatives speak for them on Friday.
Drake Custer was there for the Iowa Dignity Project. He said the project did a survey and found that infrastructure was a huge concern for local residents. The group held a forum and heard from veteran Bill Smith about the condition of 18th Street to the National Cemetery.
“It’s downright shameful that the condition of the road is a discussion during a family member’s funeral service,” he said.
Council Member Roslyn Garcia also was with the Iowa Dignity Project as well as on the Road of Honor Committee. She also serves on the Keokuk City Council. She said the council brought an idea back up to bond for street improvements.
First it was a $1 million bond, but that was found to not be enough to do much, so it was changed to $5 million. Part of the idea of starting with 18th Street, besides honoring those who served that are buried there, was that more funding could be found for that project.
The first course of action was to name the road. That brought it attention and it was fortunate to be featured in some magazines. That further made the committee able to attract the attention of some important people for more funding.
It takes time, Garcia said.
“Patience is a virtue I do not possess,” she said.
Even since the sign was unveiled, she said, she now has a 9-month-old baby.
She said while government processes are slow, there are things happening in Keokuk and “We’re just getting started.”
Former Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) spoke representing former State Rep. Christina Bohannan. Bohannan who was also on the Road of Honor Committee. She is once again running against Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks for the Iowa First District seat.
“Veterans issues should never be partisan,” Loebsack said.
He said he was pleased to see Miller-Meeks involved in the project and showed that it is a bipartisan effort.
He said he’s been on the street many times on his way to the Memorial Day event at the cemetery and is glad to see it won’t be wrecking his car the next time he drives on it.
Loebsack said he was just leaving office as the project was starting to be discussed so he couldn’t do much for it in Washington, but was glad Miller-Meeks was on board and that Bohannan wrote letters to President Biden and Gov. Kim Reynolds to try and get funding.
Mahoney said with a project this size, money becomes a problem. They reached out for federal grants and Miller-Meeks let them know the grant would be available.
“Rest assured that this project would not have been off the ground as soon as it was without the financial support of the $960,000.
Speaking for Miller-Meeks was Joe Krenzelok, district director for Miller-Meeks. He said she had to be in Washington on Friday. He said it was an honor to see the project starting, especially as the country prepares to celebrate its 248th birthday next week.
He said the Keokuk National Cemetery has served veterans and their families for more than 100 years, being a sacred place for the veterans to rest. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 and has more than 5,000 buried there.
Krenzelok said after State Representative Martin Graber and State Senator Jeff Reichman brought the situation to the representative’s attention, she and her team got to work. Miller-Meeks was then able to appropriate the $960,000 for the project.
He said she had the opportunity on Thursday to speak on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives about the project. Krenzelok finished by thanking the veterans along with Bill Smith for their service.
He ended on a quote from the Gettysburg Address.
Brent Inskeep wrapped up the speakers. He is a veteran and the supervisor for the Keokuk and Quincy National Cemeteries.
He said he and his team appreciate the support received from the Keokuk community. The resurfaced road will give veterans and their families easier access to the shrine that is the National Cemetery.
He said it also may help veterans’ families decide to pick Keokuk as the final resting place for their loved ones who are veterans.
“This will improve the quality of the experience of visiting loved ones at the National Cemetery,” he said.
With that, many gathered by the golden shovels and dirt pile for the ceremonial groundbreaking. They had Smith turn the first shovel of dirt, since he has been so integral in getting the project done.
After the ceremony, Smith said this was the beginning of closure for what he’s been trying to get accomplished with the street.
“It’s like replacing a tattered flag,” he said. “This (street) is a tattered flag. This is what people can do when they work together.
