Amid the dense cover of pine trees, Donna sits silently remembering and commemorating past patriotic efforts of this country.

The closer one gets to the green machine, the more amazed one is at how big it actually stands.

This tank, labeled Donna, USA W304, appears big enough to house a quartet of soldiers.

Today, it rests serenely on a concrete slab amid the trees in downtown DeKalb, but one is compelled to wonder what it must be like to lurch forward into battle in a foreign land in this metal brick with a mounted gun.

The stone next to the tank reads: This memorial is erected as a tribute to those of the city of DeKalb who have served with courage and honor in the defense and preservation of American liberty.

The men who commanded tanks like these in the beginning of World War II, or late into World War I, truly were brave.

These tanks were unable to assault targets with computer precision and pinpoint accuracy from miles away. However, these tanks lurched through the dense forest searching out other, sometimes faster, foreign vehicles.

The stinking heat and intensity that likely assaulted the small crew every time they were on a mission or in a combat zone must have been unbearable.

DeKalb is lucky to have such a relic.

For about 50 years, the tank sat directly next to the railroad as it crossed Lincoln Highway and Fourth Street. Use of the “temporary” spot started in 1949.

However, the story begins elsewhere.

Before 1949, DeKalb possessed a World War I cannon. The cannon rested on the same spot on Lincoln Highway and Fourth Street as the tank used to.rest.

As World War II broke out and the United States pooled its resources, DeKalb residents quickly donated the cannon to be melted down for the war effort, explained Don Schoo, a Korean War Veteran and active participant in getting the tank moved.

So for a few years, the spot along the tracks remained empty, but after the war, the community got the government to donate a new memorial piece, the tank.

This tank, labeled Donna, USA W304, appears big enough to house a quartet of soldiers.

Today, it rests serenely on a concrete slab amid the trees in downtown DeKalb, but one is compelled to wonder what it must be like to lurch forward into battle in a foreign land in this metal brick with a mounted gun.

The stone next to the tank reads: This memorial is erected as a tribute to those of the city of DeKalb who have served with courage and honor in the defense and preservation of American liberty.

The men who commanded tanks like these in the beginning of World War II, or late into World War I, truly were brave.

These tanks were unable to assault targets with computer precision and pinpoint accuracy from miles away. However, these tanks lurched through the dense forest searching out other, sometimes faster, foreign vehicles.

The stinking heat and intensity that likely assaulted the small crew every time they were on a mission or in a combat zone must have been unbearable.

DeKalb is lucky to have such a relic.

For about 50 years, the tank sat directly next to the railroad as it crossed Lincoln Highway and Fourth Street. Use of the “temporary” spot started in 1949.

However, the story begins elsewhere.

Before 1949, DeKalb possessed a World War I cannon. The cannon rested on the same spot on Lincoln Highway and Fourth Street as the tank used to.rest.

As World War II broke out and the United States pooled its resources, DeKalb residents quickly donated the cannon to be melted down for the war effort, explained Don Schoo, a Korean War Veteran and active participant in getting the tank moved.

So for a few years, the spot along the tracks remained empty, but after the war, the community got the government to donate a new memorial piece, the tank.

he original location was never an ideal one for the tank, Schoo explained.

“Tanks like that were amongst trees, like it is now,” Schoo said.

The square slab by the railroad tracks often caused problems for town memorial ceremonies.

When memorial services occurred with firing squads and flags, trains would go through, with the “ding-dong” of the warning gates going, Schoo said.

Traffic also was an issue; Lincoln Highway was not allowed to shut down because of its status as a highway.

The railroad and the highway gave the services a feel of insignificance. A change definitely was in order.

A group of veterans, including Don Schoo and Jerry Buzby, decided to form a committee whose aim was to move the tank to the newly-created DeKalb Memorial Park on Lincoln Highway and First Street.

Jerry Buzby, the chairman of the committee, said the committee started talking with Mayor Greg Sparrow and the city about the move as early as November 2001.

Buzby figured the World War I memorial already was at the park, so the logical place for the tank was next to the clock.

Buzby, Schoo and others drummed up public support for the move by getting organizations to write letters and sign petitions to the city to move the relic.

“DeKalb has dedicated people who want to help out,” Buzby said.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Amvets and the American Legion were amongst those who participated in the letter writing.

Buzby mentioned that the DeKalb Fire Department and Police Department also participated in the letter writing.

The city was unable to argue about the move when Buzby was able to negotiate the move of a 15-ton tank from Fourth Street to First Street for free.

“We have great people in DeKalb,” Buzby noted. He explained how local concrete, crane, welding and towing companies offered to help in any way they could to move the tank.

“On Saturday, May 18, 2002, the tank was moved to Memorial Park, and it did not cost the city a nickel,” Buzby said.

This outpouring of American spirit and community truly was remarkable and is a testament to the City of DeKalb and its citizens.

Now the tank is where it belongs, amongst the trees, in a memorial area in the heart of downtown DeKalb.