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A salute in MacKay Park to service people They’ve always been revered as dedicated neighbors to their communities. After 911, we called them heroes. On Saturday, November 24, 2007, members of the Caledonia community gathered around a pine tree planted in MacKay Nature Park, to salute the area men and women who have dedicated their lives to helping others. The salute recognized fire, police, EMS and military personnel. From the Cal-Mum community, Caledonia Fire Chief Tony DeMarco, Jr., Caledonia Police Officer Dan Chapman, Laura Ganzhorn Wolcott (Rural Metro) and Timothy Kemnitz (U.S. Navy Iraq War veteran) attended the dedication. Caledonia Mayor Joe Caluorie, a Vietnam Veteran himself, also attended. Barry Ganzhorn, the chief developer of MacKay Nature Park, accepted the Douglas Fir tree two years ago from Girl Scout Cadette Troup 1034. The girls planted the tree at an April 2006 ceremony presided over by the Matthew Cleary Post Color Guard, various service people and Father Mickey McGrath of St. Columba’s Catholic Church. Ganzhorn said he thought the community should be reminded of why the tree was planted so he organized the brief ceremony at MacKay Park. He plans to hang a photo-plaque at the location of the tree for visitors to the park to read. Caluorie said the community is fortunate to have such dedicated service personnel, including military service, fire and EMS. "We would be lost without the devotion and assistance that they (service personnel) make available to our community," Caluorie said. Caluorie said Ganzhorn is very motivated concerning the MacKay Nature Trail and Preserve. "He (Ganzhorn not only salutes service personnel but I know that he would be the first one to salute and say thank you to Neil Alhart for his collaboration, physical support and the satisfaction they both receive from the park," the mayor said. "The community should salute both of these men for giving us a lasting monument for all of us and the future generations to enjoy."
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