(KATV) The Arkansas Fallen Firefighters memorial has
been in the works for more than 15 years. It, along with a fire safety amphitheater
are planned to go on the State Capitol lawn.
Organizers say
they're disappointed they have not been given a date to break ground even
though they raised the last of the 1.3 million a year ago. ($150,000 of that is donated labor and services for construction)
The
memorial is to honor the 99 firefighters who paid the ultimate sacrifice. There will be room to add more names. Widows
have now started a writing campaign urging for construction to start. They tell
Channel Seven they have not received a response.
The
statue has been sitting outside the Arch Street Fire Department for more than 3
years, waiting for the 'ok' to move to its permanent home. There are four
images, phases of fire fighting. In the center ‘leather lungs' goes back to the days without a
mask. A female firefighter paramedic holds a child and administers CPR. There's
a forest fire ranger and a modern fire fighter with full equipment.
Chair of the
memorial, Johnny Reep says, "Those names of the firefighters
who have been killed over the years, their families will realize what their
families did in the line of duty will be for nothing unless they see those
names engraved in granite on the memorial wall."
Reep
was disappointed to receive this letter from the Secretary of State's office,
in part:
"Secretary of
State Mark Martin takes serious his charge to maintain the beauty and splendor
which is the Capitol. Of course the final decision for any memorial belongs to
the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission."
"Just the fact
they say we have the election process, we have Christmas festivities, we have
the legislative session coming. I'm aware of the culture of the Capitol, but
those are not good reasons to hold up this memorial project," Reep adds.
He
says if the commission is worried about damaging the capitol lawn for a
groundbreaking, he has a non-traditional idea. "We can lay tarp and
spread fresh dirt on it. We will turn the dirt on top of the tarp, not break
the ground and when the session is over with start construction."
A deputy with the Secretary of State's
office tells Channel Seven after new grounds committee members are appointed they
can set a meeting by the first of the year.
Reep concludes, "Construction cost are going up and
everyday inflation eats away at our fundraising pot so we don't want to be
behind and have to raise additional funds again. We have to get a move on."
Picture by Katherina Yancy, KATV
