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| NewsSaturday, October 13, 2007 9:12 PM CDT |
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Garden said to suit colonel who loved outdoors
NORMAL — A year to the day after Army Col. Dirk Spanton died, his wife stood with family, friends and fellow soldiers at the Illinois State University ROTC building’s new garden, calling the creation something he’d truly appreciate. “It’s not a showplace or a shrine,” Lt. Col. Julie Spanton said, describing the relaxing scene as more of a place for cadets to sit and talk. Boxwood, pansies and yellow rosebushes surround a flagstone and brick walkway and bench on the western lawn of the building. It also features shrubs, flowers and grasses. Next to the pathway is a large boulder with a plaque dedicating the space to the Bloomington man. Col. Spanton died a year ago Saturday, less than four months after he received a diagnosis of terminal cancer of the bile ducts. He had just returned from 32 months of duty in Iraq. Surviving are his wife, and the couple’s five children who at the time of his death ranged in age from 9 to 25. Sons Ken, Randy, Derek and Craig and daughter Megan joined about 100 others in the Bone Student Center’s Prairie Room on Saturday, listening to Julie Spanton share stories about her husband’s life. Derek recently joined the National Guard, and Randy is a cadet in the ROTC. Even when Col. Spanton learned of his tough diagnosis, he didn’t complain, his wife said. A soldier’s officer He was a man of few words who didn’t like to be the center of attention, she said. He will be remembered as a soldier’s officer, she said. “He was most interested in making sure his troops had everything they needed,” she said. She gave several examples of how his decision-making skills saved lives of soldiers in Iraq, and she spoke of his efforts to make every minute back home count with family. “He was a man who tried to get the most out of life,” she said. After the dedication program, the group walked to the garden for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. There, the children joined their mother to cut a yellow ribbon stretched across the walkway. The couple met while both were in the ROTC program at Illinois State University, Julie Spanton said. And before his death, her husband of 22 years had discussed the idea donating a bench in front of the site. ‘Three musketeers’ Master Sgt. Tom Marotta of Manhattan, Ill., and Lt. Col. Paul Hettich of Antioch were among soldiers attending he ceremony. They served in Iraq and several other places with Col. Spanton, earning the trio the nickname “the three musketeers,” Marotta said. “He was one of the best officers I’ve known. And I’ve been in the service 28 years,” he added. “(Col. Spanton) always was one for simplicity,” so he would have appreciated the garden, Hettich said. Hettich, who knew Spanton 20 years, said his late mentor believed in youth. As a result, Spanton would like the tie to the ROTC program, he said. Among family and friends attending were the Spantons’ longtime neighbors, Micki and Jeff Abel, and the Abel children, Jack, Madison and Malaney. “One of the first things I remember after we moved in the neighborhood was seeing him jog by the house with his boys,” Jeff Abel said. “He loved the outdoors, so he would have liked this garden,” Micki Abel added. “(Col. Spanton) certainly would not like to think of it as a memorial,” said Lt. Col. Gene Snyman. Rather, he’d see the parklike setting as a place for cadets and soldiers to relax. “It’s looking forward, not so much looking back,” Snyman said. But, it allows ROTC members to remember the alumnus who came before. Col. Dirk Spanton Born: Sept. 14, 1955, in Lincoln Family: wife, Julie; and children, Ken, Randy, Derek, Craig and Megan, all of Bloomington. Career: Enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1980. In 1983, he received his commission after entering the Army ROTC program at Illinois State University. During his nearly 25-year military career, Spanton served as a platoon leader in Kitzingen, Germany, and in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. Iraq service: Deployed to Iraq in 2003 as a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, serving nearly three years. Homecoming: Upon his return home in May 2006, Spanton received the Legion of Merit and the Combat Action Badge. In June 2006, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died Oct. 13, 2006. SOURCE: Pantagraph archives; ISU’s ROTC Web site How to help In honor of Col. Dirk Spanton’s time with Illinois State University’s ROTC program, a memorial garden was dedicated this weekend to the Iraq war veteran, who died a year ago Saturday. For information, or to inquire about buying a brick for the walkway, visit the ROTC Web site at www.rotc.ilstu.edu or call call (309) 438-5408. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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