New Marion Police Department Opens
The Marion Police Department hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 to dedicate the new Marion Police Department. A poorly advertised open house followed until 2 p.m. and the public was welcome to attend the event.
The newly modified building is located at 1001 W. DeYoung Street in Marion and used to serve as the Richard G. Wilson U.S. Army Reserve Center which had been unoccupied since August 2011 when the armory was moved to a larger, newer facility.
In August 1960, the Marion Chamber of Commerce was paid $13,585 by the U.S. Army Engineers for the site. On October 6, 1962, the armory was dedicated at 10 a.m. by Rep. Kenneth Gray, D-West Frankfort, as the principal speaker. The roughly $150,000 armory was named in honor of the Marion soldier who was killed in the Korean conflict. He gave his life trying to shield and give first aid to a wounded comrade.
Pfc. Wilson was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor, posthumously for his action. A plaque at the armory used to read “He dared to die that others might live.” His parents were Bert Wilson of Marion and Mrs. Alice Wilson of Cape Girardeau, Mo.
For more information on the armory, see the post “1960-62, Old Marion Armory”