Madison County lost three boys earlier this year in tragic accidents. And parents and family members naturally feel the worst kind of hurt.
But Madison County’s community worked to do something nice in the kids’ memory at the recreation park this year, something that would provide a little comfort to loved ones, while also giving kids a special place to play.
On Sept. 24, a new “wall ball” facility was unveiled in honor of the late Tyler Moon, a Madison County eighth grader who died in April in a lawnmower accident. The wall includes the image of Moon in stone high above the court. “A leader to many, an inspiration to all,” the marker reads.
Two stone benches were placed on the outside of the court in memory of Comer Elementary School student Samuel Hart and Ila Elementary School student Evan Escoe, 10-year-old friends who died in an accident on Hwy. 441 in Clarke County in June. Those benches will soon have their images engraved on them.
Rodney Rogers, who led the effort to create the wall ball facility, said the facility is simply a place for kids to play and for the memory of those children lost to live on.
Lee Burroughs, the mother of Tyler Moon, told the large crowd at the ceremony that it “is an incredible blessing to see and feel this love.”
“This is the perfect spot,” said Burroughs about the wall ball facility.
She then told a story about her son, noting that over 10 years he went to the recreation department regularly, but only once did she remember him standing at the spot of the wall ball court.
“Tyler’s team sold cookie dough,” she said. “And he was so excited when he won a $50 gift card.”
She remembered how she and Tyler loaded up the cookie dough and set off to distribute it. She said her son started talking about one of his teachers and all the troubles she was having.
“He said, ‘Mom, would you be mad at me if I gave this to her? She needs it more than me,’” said Burroughs.
Burroughs said the spot reminds her of her son’s kindness and of the need to pass on nice things to others.
Burroughs and Tyler’s father, Mike Moon, cut the ribbon on the facility Saturday and family members lined up, ball in hand, to throw out the first pitches. Those in attendance were then treated to a lunch under the nearby pavilion.
BOC chairman Anthony Dove said this week that Moon’s passing had a profound effect on children at the middle and high school.
“Tyler had an effect on a whole group of kids at Madison County Middle School,” said Dove. “They still think about him this year. My daughter talked about him during his birthday and it changed their outlook on life. I think that they understand how fragile life is and also the need to tell people you love them, the need to live life to its fullest. And I think as was said by Rodney Saturday, there’s never enough good to compare with the tragedy, but there is a lot of good that has been transferred out of this tragedy to a whole group of kids and I want them (the family) to know that he hasn’t been forgotten, because I hear them talk.”
