Repairing South 18th Street has been a priority for Keokuk Mayor Kathie Mahoney. That’s because the street leads into Keokuk National Cemetery, the only national cemetery in Iowa.
Those repairs are now completed, and the city celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on a warm and humid early summer afternoon.
During the ceremony, Mahoney said the sacrifice made by the veterans interred in the cemetery will never be forgotten.
“This road leads to where you rest, and it stands as a lasting symbol that you gave,” she said.
Keokuk National Cemetery is adjacent to Oakland Cemetery, which dates back to 1851. The national cemetery was created in 1862 during the American Civil War.
Mahoney hopes people who travel the road remember the sacrifice, courage, and dedication of those who served in the U.S. armed forces in the past and those serving today.
“To every soldier, sailor, marine, and guardian serving at this time, you are America’s finest. We built this road for you because your service builds a foundation for our freedom,” she said.
Brent Inskeep, Supervisor of Keokuk National Cemetery, told those assembled that the improvements to the street are about more than just pavement and stone.
“It is a pathway to remembrance. A symbol of respect, and now, thanks to the hard work of many, it reflects the dignity and honor our veterans and their families deserve,” Inskeep said.
He said the road matches the solemn beauty of the cemetery and tells every visitor that they’re entering a national shrine.
Bill Smith, a member of the Road of Honor committee, said the idea of professional results and daily effort was drilled into his head while training to serve in the Vietnam War.
“Professional results and daily effort has always stuck by me. And that’s what completed this project,” he said.
He said people in Keokuk and throughout Lee County care deeply for military veterans.
“We need to show respect to all that have served. We are the gatekeepers of this sacred site and the path that leads us here,” he said.
Smith said the project became a priority because South 18th was in such bad shape. He said even EMTs wouldn’t drive down the road.
The street is now paved with concrete. It has new ADA compliant sidewalks, new curbs and gutters, and new water and sewer systems underneath.
The city awarded the project to Jones Contracting Corporation of West Point, which submitted the low bid.
Mahoney said the work cost $3.5 million. The city received a $960,000 federal grant to help pay for it. The rest of the money came from a local bond issue, which will also help pay for other street repair projects in Keokuk.
“Now we’re moving on to the other side of town,” the mayor told TSPR after the ceremony. “We’re building streets.”
People from throughout the community attended the ceremony. The event also drew others from farther away.
Democratic State Representative Ross Wilburn made the more than 200-mile trip from Ames to Keokuk.
“In 1864, my great, great grandfather was enslaved in Palmyra, Missouri. (He) escaped, enlisted, and became part of the First Iowa Colored Infantry. They were trained in Keokuk, Iowa, so the area has special meaning to me and my family,” he said after the ceremony.
His great, great grandfather is buried in Galesburg, which is where Wilburn grew up. But he said his ancestor’s service and connection to southeast Iowa makes the Keokuk National Cemetery and Road of Honor significant to him.
Wilburn is also a veteran, having served in the Iowa Army National Guard.
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