RISON - An M60 tank, still carrying the desert camouflage that was used during Operation Desert Storm, arrived at its new home in Veterans Park in Rison late Saturday morning.
Rison Mayor Charles Roberts said a dedication ceremony for the tank will be held before the Rison in the Fall Festival at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at Veterans Park.
Roberts said the placement of the tank is the result of a months long effort that included a lot of coordination between volunteers and the generous donations of personnel and equipment from local companies to move the 50-plus ton tank from Hamburg to Rison.
Veterans Park, while technically owned by the county, is under lease with the City of Rison, which maintains the grounds.Roberts pointed out the tank itself still remains property of the U.S. Army and is basically on loan to the city through the U.S. Army Static Display Program.
Roberts said the city will be responsible for the care and maintenance of the tank from this point forward, noting that the city must submit an annual report regarding the tank’s care. He said it is the same set of guidelines that apply to the World War II era cannon that is also on display at the park as well.
Army guidelines require the tank to remain basically as it is, Roberts said, noting that there is very little the city can do to change the looks of the tank. He said even the colors and patterns used on the desert camouflage paint scheme cannot be changed but the paint itself can be freshened up.
The mayor explained that the late County Judge Jimmy Cummings wanted to have a piece of military equipment serve as a centerpiece in the park, but was never able to set it through. He said Cummings initially found a fighter jet in North Little Rock, but discovered it was too big to fit in the park.
Randy Morgan of Rison, a member of the Cleveland County Veterans Association, partnered with Cummings on the search and continued it after Cummings’ passing last year. Roberts said it was Morgan who ca…