As hundreds gathered at a Joliet park to honor her son, Denise Meehan fondly recalled how the park had given him his first taste of freedom and how they both loved swinging there.
Her son, Army Pfc. Andrew Meari, 21, was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2010. The park, located at the corner of Joe Adler and Ruth Fitzgerald drives in the Mayfair subdivision, was renamed after him.
“It is absolutely true that the only thing worse than dying in war is to be forgotten,” said Meehan, who lives a few blocks from the park. “I can’t tell you how comforted I am in knowing that years from now, another little boy will be given permission to ride his bike to the park, as Andrew did, and that little boy will see the sign and wonder, ‘Who was Pfc. Andrew Meari?'”
Meari joined the Army in 2008 and was an infantryman assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. He died when his unit was attacked with a vehicle-borne explosive device in Kandahar. Meari and another soldier took the brunt of the explosion, saving the lives of other soldiers, officials said at Saturday’s ceremony.
The park, which is within the Plainfield Park District, was recently revamped with new swings, slides and climbing equipment. Park commissioners unanimously approved the name change in May after being contacted by Meehan’s husband, Jerry, and Joliet officials. A new park sign, along with a smaller sign identifying Meari, were unveiled and will be installed at the park, formerly known as Mayfair Park.
“It’s an honor for Plainfield Park District to be able to take one of our parks and dedicate it to Pfc. Andrew Meari,” park board President Mary Kay Ludemann said.
The ceremony drew more than 300 people, including neighborhood residents, a fellow soldier from Ft. Campbell, politicians, members of Operation Welcome You Home and local firefighters, police officers and veterans’ groups. Many described Meari as a hero and lauded his service.
“Children will gather to play here and will hopefully know a better tomorrow because of Andrew, because of Andrew’s service,” Joliet City Councilman Jim McFarland said.
Meehan said the renaming was very appropriate for her son’s memory.
“I can’t think of a more fitting memorial … than to name a park where kids can play as they should — free and carefree, happy and safe — than to name it for a soldier who gave his life in service to this country,” said Meehan, who learned of the plans only after commissioners approved the new name.
Meehan also lauded the Plainfield Park District for working with Kids Around the World to re-use the equipment removed from the park. The old pieces — which Meari played on — will be shipped to another area in need of a playground.
“Think about it,” she said. “This park is being dedicated to a soldier who died fighting for the ideals of this country in a faraway land. The equipment that was here, what he touched and played and laughed on, is going to be sent to another faraway land so some other children can play, laugh and just be kids.”
Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter.
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