Officials in Knox County are seeking assistance after a cherished public monument disappeared from Thomas "Tank" Strickland Park, leaving local residents and frequent visitors bereft. The bronze statue, depicting children enthralled in their reading on a bench, has become a symbol of youthful curiosity and communal spirit at the park located near Chilhowee Hills off Holston Drive. According to WATE, Knox County Parks and Recreation issued a plea on social media inquiring, "Have you seen our children?" as part of their effort to recover the artwork.

The monument's absence was first noticed and reported on Monday, and the news has since rippled across the community. "It appears someone loved this reading children statue so much that they took it for their own, leaving the kids who visit this park to be confused about where their friends went," Knox County Parks and Recreation lamented, as per WATE. The full size of the artwork, including both the bench and the reading children, was stolen, which suggests a premeditated and deliberate act rather than a spontaneous crime of opportunity.

There is a call now being made for anyone who might have information on the statue's current location to come forward. Knox County Parks and Recreation has opened up a channel of communication for tips, urging individuals to email [email protected] or to dial their direct line at 865-215-6600. The authorities have not yet commented on whether there are any leads or how monumental the task of retrieving the work of art may be, but the hope is that the community's engagement will quickly lead to its safe return.

Meanwhile, the community reflects on the void left by the statue's mysterious disappearance, with expressions of disbelief and a collective desire to see the monument restored to its rightful place. "It appears someone loved this reading children statue so much that they took it for their own, leaving the kids who visit this park to be confused about where their friends went," detailed the post shared by Knox County Parks and Recreation, as reported by WVLT.