DailyJournalOnline → News → Local → Deason family raises money to honor soldiers killed in Iraq

Deason family raises money to honor soldiers killed in Iraq

Desloge City Park renovated in honor of fallen heroes

By CHRIS CLINE
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Published: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Updated: Sunday, November 8, 2009 4:08 AM CST

Desloge city officials are hopeful that the new basketball court in the city park will be ready in time for Veterans Day. - Chris Cline / Daily Journal

DESLOGE — Desloge has a new red, white and blue basketball court in the city park. The court was renovated in honor of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Deason, 28, Desloge, who was killed in Iraq on Aug. 31, 2006. City Administrator Greg Camp said the free floating surface has already been installed and he thought the new goal would be installed on Thursday.

“We are hoping that the court will be finished in time to host a Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday,” Camp said.

The Deasons raised money to refurbish the basketball court at the Desloge City Park. Ashley Deason submitted a proposal to the board of aldermen during its August meeting. According to the proposal submitted to the board, she wanted to put new blacktop on the half court and have a free-throw line painted on it. During the September board of aldermen meeting approval was given to use the free-floating surface rather than asphalt.

“The surface of the court took a different turn because it wasn’t economically feasible to replace the court with asphalt and concrete,” Camp said at the meeting. “Ashley (Deason) did not get the Wal-Mart grant she had hoped to get.”

The surface that was used was manufactured by Flex Court Athletics. It snaps together like a grid and comes in a variety of colors. Normally a court would cost $2,891.67, but the company agreed to discount the court $1,000. The Deasons’ cost for the court was $1,891.67.

Ashley Deason also wanted to purchase a new basketball goal. Camp said David Deason got the goal donated from a Park Hills resident. A plaque will be placed at the court to honor Michael along with other soldiers who have been killed in Iraq.

The court is being refurbished strictly with money that has been donated or raised by the Deasons. The city did not pay for the new court, with the exception of donating the labor to assist with the installation of the surface.

Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at ccline@dailyjournalonline.com.