School creates memorial to student killed in wreck

Cory Gant died Jan. 25 after a car accident two days earlier.

--- John E. Chambers/Special to The Capital-Journal

By JOHN E. CHAMBERS

Special to The Capital-Journal

NORTH TOPEKA --- An outdoor memorial at West Indianola Elementary School was dedicated May 16 to a young student who "loved the outdoors, exercise and athletics."

That was the description of Cory Gant, 10, given by his school principal, Terri Anderson, during the brief memorial dedication. Cory, the son of Tony and Suzanne Gant, died Jan. 25 in a Kansas City, Mo., hospital from injuries suffered in a car accident two days earlier in Topeka.

Cory was a member of Melanie Campbell's fourth-grade class at West Indianola.

The dedication was for a memorial white limestone bench and plantings of shrubs, flowers and a shade tree in a tiny garden-like setting near the school's Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site. Engraved on the edge of the bench is the boy's name and the year.

During the dedication, all of the school's students and staff members sat circling the monument. Cory's parents, family members and friends stood a short distance away while Anderson spoke about Cory, the monument and "Cory's Corner."

Anderson said the children decided on the setting for the memorial, which was facing the OWLS project with its small marsh and various plantings. She described the site as "restful and peaceful."

The school's PTO sidewalk committee placed the engraved bench at the memorial site. Fourth-grade students donated the shrubs, flowers and tree that were planted in a semi-circle suggesting a hug --- "our hug to him and his hug to us," Anderson said.

Helping with the memorial site preparation was Jim Skinner.

The PTO is accepting donations also for the addition of a sidewalk that will extend along the school property that borders 43rd Street. A memorial plate would be included in the sidewalk. The school staff, for their memorial to Cory, is planning a memorial wall cabinet to be placed in the school lobby for displaying student work.

During the dedication of Cory's Corner, the students, staff, family and friends listened to one of Cory's favorite records, "I Believe I Can Fly," then observed a moment of silence as some of Cory's classmates and some of the adults wept and comforted each other.

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